Fresh from Australian duty, paceman Jackson Bird has taken a seven-wicket haul for Tasmania in Sheffield Shield, helping dismiss NSW for 271.
At Bellerive Oval on Sunday the Blues took a 29-run lead into the second innings thanks largely to a century from No.3 Kurtis Patterson.
It was a better outcome for NSW than the bleak 4-26 overnight score had suggested was coming.
Bird finished with 7-45 – his best first-class figures – from 20.1 overs.
On day two he bowled Ryan Carters, just shy of his half-century, and two balls later trapped Sean Abbott lbw without score.
Big-hitting Doug Bollinger came to the middle and fired three boundaries and a six before also falling victim to a Bird delivery, caught at slip.
In fitting fashion, Bird bowled the delivery which ended NSW’s innings with Trent Copeland caught at long on.
On Saturday the fast bowler removed Blues opener Daniel Hughes and skipper Nic Maddinson, both for nought, and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon, for one.
Bird’s figures surpassed his previous first-class benchmark of 6-25.
Patterson was a much-needed steadying influence for NSW on day two.
With support from Ben Rohrer, Patterson reached his 50 from 103 balls and later returned from the tea break for his century.
However his knock came unstuck just a couple of balls later when caught at slip from a Hamish Kingston delivery.
Rohrer added a valuable 58 and was part of a 120-run partnership with Patterson until he was caught behind from a Evan Gulbis delivery.
The Blues need a win in the southern capital to keep their Shield finals hopes alive.
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