Debutant rescues NSW before Tremain strikes back

A fighting cameo from debutant Hayden Kerr has saved New South Wales from another collapse against Victoria and propelled them into a dominant position in the Marsh Sheffield Shield.

The 25-year-old allrounder strode to the wicket during the middle session of the first day of the delayed Shield clash at the SCG with his side wobbling again at 6-148, having just lost Jack Edwards and Jason Sangha in consecutive balls, and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill to a ripping inswinger from fiery paceman James Pattinson.

The right-hander put on a crucial 37-run stand with opener Daniel Hughes (70), who struck his third consecutive half-century, before Kerr (62no) opened the shoulders with the tail to push the hosts to a competitive first-innings total of 233 all out.

That total looked more than enough when Chris Tremain, who was making his first appearance for NSW in more than eight years, claimed two wickets in the first over and another in his second to leave Victoria rattled at 3-2.

Tremain, who moved to NSW from Victoria ahead of the 2020-21 season, sent James Seymour packing off the first ball of the innings when the left-hander chopped on and had Peter Handscomb trapped in front two balls later for a duck.

Matt Short (2) lasted eight balls before he was also out to the NSW quick, edging to Kurtis Patterson at slip.

Travis Dean, who was recalled to the Victorian side after Marcus Harris was elevated to Australia's Ashes squad, and Jonathon Merlo, also recalled in place of Australia A representative Nic Maddinson, steadied under fading light and grey skies to take the visitors to stumps without further loss.

Both will resume tomorrow morning on 32 not out with Victoria precariously placed at 3-68, 165 runs behind the NSW first-innings total.

After the start of the match was delayed a day due to Victorian allrounder Will Sutherland's positive COVID-19 test, Handscomb won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the home side to bat first.

Nevill, playing in his 100th Sheffield Shield match, was presented with a memento to mark the occasion by NSW great Phil Emery as the players took to the field for the first ball.

Victoria, with two debutants of their own in pacemen Xavier Crone and Brody Couch, got an early breakthrough with Matthew Gilkes out for 13, but NSW progressed rapidly in a lively first session to be 3-129 at lunch.

Hughes was dropped at slip by Wil Parker off Pattinson, as keeper Sam Harper teamed up with part-time off-spinner Short to remove the dangerous Patterson (37) and Moises Henriques, both stumped.

The game changed quickly after lunch with first-gamer Crone knocking over Sangha to a sharp catch at midwicket and Edwards with a beautiful outswinger in consecutive balls.

Nerves got the better of him on the hat-trick ball which he dragged down short and wide, but when Pattinson got Nevill next over, a tale familiar to the side's first two Shield clashes of the season looked to be playing out all over again.

Enter Kerr, who took on Pattinson over deep mid-wicket and dispatched young leg spinner Parker for 21 off two overs, as he rescued the innings and kept NSW in the hunt for their first win of the season.