A brisk half century from Nic Maddinson has continued NSW’s fightback on day three of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

The Blues were 3-247 at lunch in reply to the home side’s first innings total of 6(dec)-425, with Maddinson unbeaten on 52.

He and skipper Ben Rohrer (30no) had steadied the ship after an early double strike from Tigers paceman Luke Butterworth (3-40) on Friday morning.

NSW resumed at 1-145 before Butterworth trapped Tim Cruickshank in front for 39 on the 10th ball of the morning to have the visitors 2-149.

Cruickshank had put on 80 with opener David Dawson, who became Butterworth’s second victim when he was also out lbw for 75 to have NSW 3-170.

Maddinson and Rohrer then put on 77 to keep the Blues in the hunt for first innings points on a placid Bellerive track.

Left-hander Maddinson brought up his 50 with an off drive for four after returning Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus (0-44) had taken the second new ball.

In doing so the highly rated 21-year-old went past 1000 first class runs in his 19th match.

A sporting declaration is a possibility with both sides desperate for maximum points on a congested ladder.

Tasmania sit fourth on 16 points with NSW a point behind, but just eight points separate first from last.