NSW lead South Australia by 252 runs heading into the final day of their Sheffield Shield contest as fifties by Jason Sangha, Blake Nikitaras and Matthew Gilkes helped them take control
Match Report: South Australia win by 5 wickets
ScorecardTop order fires to put Blues in control against Redbacks
First-class debutant Blake Nikitaris has impressed again for NSW as they look to end their Marsh Sheffield Shield campaign with a win over South Australia on Saturday.
The match has become a dead rubber with Western Australia and Victoria now locked in for next week's Shield final in Perth, but fourth-placed NSW can still take plenty of positives from the match in Adelaide.
Don't bowl there!! NSW debutant Blake Nikitaras with another monster strike to get off the mark in the second innings #SheffieldShield
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 25, 2022
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The Blues went to stumps on day three at Karen Rolton Oval at 4-235, holding a lead of 252 after Jason Sangha, Nikitaras and Matthew Gilkes each made half-centuries.
The day was highlighted by Nikitaras, with the 21-year-old making 56 to go with the 44 he posted in his first innings, belting two huge sixes and impressing with his flamboyant strokeplay throughout his 100-ball innings.
He looked set to push for triple figures until a disastrous mix-up with Gilkes that saw both headed to the same end, with a direct hit run out by Brendan Doggett catching him short of his ground at the bowler's end.
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Fresh from 142 in the first innings, skipper Sangha remained in imperious touch and brought up another 50, eventually caught off Nathan McSweeney for 62.
Gilkes was also in fine form with his fifth first-class 50 before he fell when off-spinner McSweeney trapped him leg before for 54.
Lachie Hearne could yet be a fourth Blue to raise the bat, going to stumps 31 not out. McSweeney (2-71) has been the pick of the Redbacks bowlers so far.
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South Australia declared 17 runs behind NSW at 9-277 late in Friday's morning session after the Blues dismissed captain Henry Hunt (109) and Harry Nielsen (63) early before tail-ender Liam Scott whacked 30 not out.
Veteran Chris Tremain (3-51) and Trent Copeland (3-58) were the pick of the Blues' bowlers.
South Australia faces an uphill task on the final day to break a 17-match winless streak in the Sheffield Shield that stretches back to February 2020, while NSW will be looking to finish off their strong second half of the season.