Three South Australian wickets to rookie paceman Gurinder Sandhu has given NSW the ideal start in their unlikely pursuit of a spot in the Sheffield Shield final.
The Redbacks are 3-59 at lunch on day one at the SCG on Thursday, with Sandhu dominating the visitors by initially removing both openers in a four-ball burst to reach the break with figures of 3-15.
The 19-year-old broke the opening partnership when Sam Raphael chopped onto his stumps on just five after Blues skipper Ben Rohrer had won the toss and elected to bowl.
Sandhu had Alex Carey caught at first slip by Trent Copeland for 10 when he extracted some extra bounce from the wicket and grabbed an edge to reduce the Redbacks to 2-21.
He bounced Michael Klinger (22) in much the same manner, with the experienced right-hander also fending a short delivery to Copeland to end a 35-run partnership with Callum Ferguson.
Ferguson (14no) and youngster Travis Head (2no) successfully navigated their way to lunch without further damage.
Both teams have their eyes on an outright victory as they chase a spot in next week’s Shield final.
The Blues are in last place with 23 points on the ladder, but remarkably could still host the final if they secure maximum points and other results fall their way.
South Australia, on 26 points, are better placed to reach the decider but would still need an outright win to assure themselves of a spot.