NSW’s Sheffield Shield hopes remain alive after a crushing eight-wicket victory over South Australia at the SCG.

The win lifts the Blues to 29 points – momentarily putting them at the top of the table – as they wait for results from the other two matches taking place around the country.

A draw in either game would ensure them a place in the final, while draws in both games would remarkably mean the final, which starts next Friday, would take place at the SCG.

Starting day three with the upper hand, NSW wasted no time in taking the game away from South Australia thanks to another top-shelf bowling performance from star young quicks Gurinder Sandhu and Josh Hazlewood.

Nineteen-year-old Sandhu, who claimed four victims in the first innings as SA collapsed to be all out for 182, struck with the third ball of the day to dismiss Jake Brown (21).

He then had Tim Ludeman out lbw in his second over to finish with 3-20, and match figures of 7-78, to go with a valuable knock of 44 in a man-of-the-match performance which helped NSW to a 37-run first innings lead.

By the time Hazlewood (3-35) added the wicket of Johan Botha (4), and former Test paceman Trent Copeland knocked back the off stump of Sayers (0) the batting capitulation had set in.

Fringe Australian batsman Callum Ferguson played a lone hand as the visitors fought for their season, hitting eight boundaries in his unbeaten 44.

But he had precious little support, and it left NSW with a non-threatening chase of just 91 to reel in.

They did it in no time.

Debutant Daniel Hughes (21no) watched on as Nic Maddinson blasted three sixes from one Johan Botha over, as the Blues cruised to victory with only two wickets down.

Maddinson hit the winning runs to post a blistering unbeaten 41, including five sixes and two fours, from just 17 balls.

Redbacks quick Chadd Sayers was one of the few visitors to hold his head up after the loss, claiming the second-innings wicket off Scott Henry (9) in addition to his 5-53 in the first dig.