A gritty seventh-wicket partnership between Steve O'Keefe and Peter Nevill has saved New South Wales from disaster against Tasmania at Bankstown Oval in Sydney.
The Blues, who likely need a win to keep their Sheffield Shield final hopes alive, suffered a middle-order collapse to be 6-110 before a final-session revival saw them reach 7-226 at stumps, just 11 runs shy of Tasmania.
O'Keefe (53no) and Nevill (39) ground out a 94-run stand, after the Blues had lost four top-order wickets for the addition of just 10 runs.
The opening pair of Ryan Carters (28) and Scott Henry (47) put on 56 for the first wicket, but it was all downhill from there for the Blues on a slow wicket.
"It was pretty hard to score out there," said Henry. "It took a while to get used to the pace and bounce of the wicket.
"I don't think it got easier as the day went on, you just had to play every ball on its merits.
"Anything is a good lead on that wicket. It's crucial we bat well tomorrow and get as much ahead as we can."
Jackson Bird (2-37), Andrew Fekete (2-24) and spinner Clive Rose (3-65) shared the wickets for Tasmania.
"I thought we toiled well and bowled well all day," Rose said.
"There was a little bit of spin there which was good. If the wicket stays the way it is, I think I will be bowling plenty more overs, and the old ball is spinning and reversing as well."
Third-placed NSW are desperately in need of a win in the penultimate round match if they are to stay in touch with frontrunners Western Australia and Victoria and maintain their hopes of a spot in the Shield final.
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