NSW have suffered two early blows in their pursuit of 277 runs to defeat South Australia and take top spot on the Sheffield Shield ladder.
The Blues were 2-54 at lunch on Thursday’s final day at Adelaide Oval, with Nic Maddinson falling for 18 and Scott Henry out for one.
Maddinson, for the second time in the game, played a rash shot outside off stump and was caught behind from Gary Putland’s bowling.
And SA captain Johan Botha trapped Henry lbw some 15 minutes before the break.
NSW will rise to the top of the Shield table if they reach their target while the Redbacks can also snatch top position with a win – both scenarios depending on Western Australia losing to Queensland.
SA set the Blues 277 runs from 86 overs after being bowled out for 280 in their second innings earlier on Thursday.
Chasing quick runs, the Redbacks lost their last five wickets for 48 runs in 35 minutes.
NSW spinner Steve O’Keefe took 6-70, his second five-wicket haul of the match, while paceman Doug Bollinger claimed 3-61.
Redbacks batsman Tom Cooper top-scored with 89 and Callum Ferguson (59) and opener Sam Raphael (55) made half-centuries.