Rookie Tasmania fast bowler Sam Rainbird finished with six wickets as the defending champions made a strong start to day two of the Sheffield Shield opener against NSW at Blacktown.

Tasmania were 1-56 at lunch on Thursday after bowling the Blues out for a disappointing 288 in hot conditions in Sydney’s west.

NSW quick Doug Bollinger removed opener Jordan Silk early, but Ed Cowan (17 not out) and Alex Doolan (38 no) gave Tasmania a solid platform.

Rainbird (6-68) took five wickets on day one, including the prized scalp of Australian captain Michael Clarke, before wrapping up the innings by bowling Bollinger – restricting NSW to just eight runs on top of their day one score.

The 21-year-old managed to find some reverse swing on day one on what was a flat wicket at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Conditions are expected to become increasingly tougher for batsmen as the match wears on.

Fellow Tasmanian George Bailey may have a tight grip on the vacant Australian No.6 position, but Doolan is firmly in the minds of selectors.

He will play for Australia A next week against England and a healthy start to the season could put him in the frame for selection.

Cowan was dropped after the first Ashes Test in England during the winter, and appears to have dropped down the pecking order heading into the summer.

However, it was weight of runs which saw Cowan force his way into the Test team originally, and the stoic left-hander will hope he can do the same again.

Clarke made 88 on day one, but said NSW were chasing a score in excess of 330 in the season-opening Shield match.

However, the Blues crumbled late to fall well short of their expectations.

Test hopeful Ben Hilfenhaus took 2-44 for the Tasmanians, getting danger man David Warner caught and bowled and then trapping tailender Nathan Lyon in front to help close out proceedings.