NSW's hopes of a berth in next month's Sheffield Shield final might have suffered irreparable damage from South Australia's unheralded bowling attack on day two of their match in Coffs Harbour.
SA finished on Friday at 1-64 in their second innings, boasting a 151-run lead with nine wickets in hand.
NSW were fired out earlier for just 211 and, adding insult to injury, the damage was partly caused by a fast bowler born and bred in Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid north coast.
Former New South Welshman Joe Mennie took 4-52 to extend his season tally to a competition-high 35 scalps. In tandem with Daniel Worrall, who took 4-48, the pair are the leading wicket-takers in this season's Shield.
Resuming at 1-31, NSW stumbled their way to 6-97 at lunch with Mennie and Worrall ripping through the top order.
And it could have been even uglier for the home side but for an unlikely eighth-wicket stand of 71 between wicketkeeper Ryan Carters (54) and 17-year-old debutant Arjun Nair (37).
"We don't have blokes that are going to blast people out," said Mennie of the SA attack. "We know our job, and what we need to do.
"They (NSW) have a very attacking top order, and our plan was pretty basic - to keep it dry and make them play good shots off good balls.
"It is always nice to come back home. To play in front of family and friends is great, and to take wickets is a bonus."
Mennie believes SA bowlers Tom Andrews and Travis Head will find joy on the final day with NSW to bat last.
"The wicket played pretty well today, but it looks like it will start keeping low a little bit," said Mennie. "There are a few marks and a bit of wear and tear."
Defeat for either team in this match will be a severe blow to their respective Shield campaigns with second-placed Queensland boasting a handy advantage.
The Blues' hopes in this match would have been virtually extinguished had Carters and the Canberra-born Nair not combined for a rearguard action.
"I was pleased with how I batted, and especially to have a partnership with Arjun on debut," said Carters.
"He did well to fend off the initial barrage and I thought he then played some great shots, and he showed a lot of guts and determination.
"The pitch is playing pretty well, I would say. We would back ourselves to have a crack at something in the 300s (target)."
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