Peter Nevill has posted his highest first-class total to help revive a shaky NSW first innings against Tasmania.
Surpassing his previous best of 112, wicketkeeper Nevill was 122 not out at stumps on Sunday at Bellerive Oval, as the Blues moved to 7-353 in reply to Tasmania's 272.
The visitors got off to a poor start on day two, losing three early wickets to find themselves floundering at 5-66.
But Nic Maddinson paired with Nevill to dig in for a valuable 87-run partnership before Maddinson was caught for 85 from a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery which nicked a top edge.
Nevill stepped in where Maddinson left off, producing a strong display and finally bringing up a ton with one of his 12 boundaries.
The right-handed batsman found support firstly from Sean Abbott (37) and later from Stephen O'Keefe (61 not out).
"It was very pleasing the situation of the game when I came in, being able to put together partnerships," Nevill said after play.
"Nic Maddinson was batting beautifully until he got out and when he went I had to take it upon myself to make sure we got as close to (Tasmania's) total as possible and thankfully we managed to get past it."
While Tasmania's bowlers struggled through the afternoon, the Blues lost early cheap wickets after resuming on Sunday at 2-23.
Kurtis Patterson was the first to fall, caught at second slip for 12 from a Hilfenhaus delivery.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was bowled for the same score from an inside edge to Jackson Bird.
NSW skipper Moises Henriques was then trapped lbw for just one run by Andrew Fekete.
But the results didn't impress an "extremely disappointed" Tigers skipper, Alex Doolan.
"I thought we bowled particularly poorly," he said at the end of Sunday's play.
"It is a flat wicket and they did bat well but we need to be better than that."
There were mistakes in the field too, with O'Keefe dropped at first slip soon after arriving at the crease.
Hilfenhaus has been the pick of the Tassie bowlers, while paceman Luke Butterworth claimed Abbott's scalp and his first wicket for Tasmania this season.
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