NSW batsman Simon Katich has been forced to retire hurt after being struck in the face as the Blues reached 3-214 at tea on day one of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive.
Katich top-edged a delivery from impressive Tigers paceman Luke Butterworth onto his lower forehead while attempting a pull shot.
The former Test opener was 46 at the time and, with No.3 Steven Smith, had put on 122 for the third wicket after the Blues had been 2-39 on a green wicket that had provided plenty of assistance to the bowlers early.
Smith offered plenty of chances in making his 98, which included 13 fours and a six, but he fell short of a ton when he offered no stroke to a Butterworth (2-35) ball and cut a forlorn figure as he trudged off.
He and Katich had made batting look easy as the pitch flattened out after lunch following a difficult first session that had claimed openers Phil Hughes (one) and Usman Khawaja (21).
NSW’s first 100 had come off 217 balls, but they raced to 150 off only another 37.
Katich, who had been given a life on 12 when he was dropped by Mark Cosgrove at first slip, departed when the score was 2-161 and Smith’s wicket left the visitors 3-172.
Hughes’ Bellerive nightmare continued at the venue of his most recent Test, when he made four and 20 in a now infamous loss to New Zealand and was dropped.
In the tough conditions, he skied a nasty ball from paceman Jackson Bird (1-35) that was snapped up by Tigers keeper Brady Jones in the fourth over of the morning to leave the Blues 1-4.
Khawaja, who made a century in Saturday’s one-day match, looked to be mastering the conditions when he cover drove Butterworth for four in the 18th over to move to 21.
But next ball he was caught behind pushing forward and the Blues were 2-39.
At tea, Ben Rohrer was unbeaten on 30 and Peter Nevill 10 not out.