Blues close in on crucial Shield win

The New South Wales Blues are looking to their spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe to finish off Tasmania and secure an important victory after a one-sided day three in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at Bankstown Oval.

The Blues started the day in a precarious position but half-centuries from all-rounder Steve O'Keefe (87) and fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu (97 no) made light of a slow wicket that had proved difficult to score on.

Resuming at 7-226 NSW played with controlled aggression to reach 394 and secure a hefty 157-run lead on the first innings.

In response Tasmania struggled against the dual spin attack to be 6-147 at stumps, still 10 runs short of making the home side bat again.

Lyon claimed 3-46 and O'Keefe 1-33, with the pair having sharing six wickets in Tasmania's first innings.

Image Id: ~/media/B4619B1100A64E7A8B0298C4C3E5C966

Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets on day three // Getty Images

Earlier Sandhu, who hit five sixes in his knock, was left stranded three shy of his maiden first-class century after Doug Bollinger was bowled for a duck.

"There was (more spin) towards the end, and Lyono (Lyon) and Stevie (O'Keefe) were bowling really well," said Sandhu.

"It has been a great day for the Blues, and hopefully we can have a good first hour tomorrow."

Sandhu helped put on 89 for the eighth-wicket with O'Keefe, before teaming up with Lyon (42) to further defy the Tasmanian bowlers with a 100-run stand.

It was a second successive half-century for Sandhu following his 77 in Newcastle last week.

And Sandhu, whose best in 14 previous matches had been just 45, said he has not been spending more time on his batting.

"I wish I could say I have. I have a hit (in the nets) whenever I can and that has probably helped.

"I just tried to get through the first ten overs anyway I could.

"I started off having a bit of fun with Stevie (O'Keefe), and as we went on the partnership grew, and it was good to give us something to bowl to."

A win for third-placed NSW will keep them in touch with frontrunners Western Australia and Victoria and maintain their hopes of a spot in the Shield final.

Beau Webster has top-scored for Tasmania with 65 not out, and the inexperienced 21-year-old remains the last remaining recognised batsman for the Blues to dislodge.

"It was pretty tough work with Lyono (Lyon) and SOK (O'Keefe) bowling into the rough and spinning it quite a bit," Webster said.

"I'm probably pretty lucky to still be out there with a few edges, but I'm trying to remain positive.

"We have had some trouble getting the tail out in the past few matches.

"If we can get a bit of a lead and make them bat again you never know what can happen."