Senior batsmen must step up: Patterson

NSW captain Kurtis Patterson says his side's senior batsmen must step up in the second half of the JLT One-Day Cup as the Blues search for their first win of the competition.

Patterson was handed the reins on the eve of the tournament when skipper Peter Nevill broke his thumb in the WACA Ground nets, and so far he's yet to taste success in three matches at the helm.

The Blues were comfortably beaten by Western Australia and South Australia in Perth before suffering a 66-run defeat to Victoria yesterday at North Sydney Oval.

Chasing 328 to win, Patterson made 48 and Moises Henriques top-scored with 77, but in the tournament to date no Blues batsman has posted triple figures and only three players have recorded half-centuries: Henriques, Daniel Hughes and rookie Daniel Sams, who has two.

With the finals approaching, Patterson says it's "crucial" the senior batsmen – himself, Henriques and Hughes – occupy the crease, amass big scores and provide the backbone for the Blues.

"Being one of the senior guys now along with Moises (Henriques) and Dan Hughes at the top of the order, the three of us really need to approach the game like we're going to bat all the way through until at least the 40th over, and have that mindset that once we get in to really be ruthless and take control of the innings," Patterson said today at Blues training in Drummoyne.

"We've lost our last two games with Jake Weatherald scoring a match-winning hundred and Cam White doing it yesterday.

"It's probably one us in the top four's job and we've lacked that in our first three games.

"We addressed that yesterday, I think the attitude is right in the squad and it's positive, we're optimistic.

"There's a couple of changes we need to make just with our approach to the game and I think that will put us in good stead going forward."

While it's been a torrid start to his captaincy career, Patterson says he's really enjoyed the role as his side prepares to take on undefeated Tasmania tomorrow at North Sydney Oval.

"It's obviously an added level of stress and different challenges from looking after yourself to looking after 10 other blokes as well," he said.

"It was mixed emotions getting it with Pete (Nevill) going down the way he did, which was disappointing for all of us.

"Like the young guys in our squad, I'm learning in this craft as well, I'm always trying to get better.

"For me as captain it's just about making sure our players are improving and as a team we're improving over the tournament.

"We’re really coming down to crunch time tomorrow as we head into the back end."

CommBank T20 INTLs v NZ 

September 29: First T20I, North Sydney Oval, Sydney

October 1: Second T20I, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

October 5: Third T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra