A counter-attacking innings from new face Hayden Kerr revived New South Wales from a parlous position in their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.
New South Wales have overcome a top-order collapse thanks to a defiant half-century from rookie allrounder Hayden Kerr on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.
Kerr ended the day unbeaten on 87 to help the Blues reach 8-272 at stumps at the SCG.
A competitive total looked unlikely earlier in the day with NSW slipping to 3-41, and then 5-106, after the home side had won the toss and elected to bat despite overnight rain.
Kerr, playing in just his third first-class match, displayed some early resilience before counter-attacking late in the day, striking 12 boundaries in his 125-ball knock.
It was a vast contrast from the opening session when Tasmanian quick Sam Rainbird (3-77) ran through the top order.
Rainbird made the most of some early favourable conditions to collect three early scalps including, most notably, Blues' heavy scoring skipper Kurtis Patterson for a second-ball duck.
Perhaps, however, the most notable wicket-taker was Australian U-19 representative and ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan on his Shield debut.
Radhakrishnan collected the important wicket of Peter Nevill (34) bowling right-arm offspin, with the 19-year-old also capable of bowling left-arm orthodox.
A 70-run eighth-wicket stand between Kerr and fast bowler Chris Tremain (38) lifted NSW from a jittery 7-154.
Harry Conway maintained the late-order defiance to remain unbeaten at the close on 14 after nearly an hour at the crease.
The Blues endured a disrupted preparation with coach Phil Jaques diagnosed with COVID-19 on the eve of the match, joining in-form opener Daniel Hughes who was sidelined with COVID earlier in the week.
Tasmania's bowlers retained their discipline with the ball throughout the day, none more so than evergreen Peter Siddle who enjoyed figures of 2-30 from 20 overs.
Former NSW paceman Jackson Bird returned 1-35 from his 18 overs.
