NSW's hopes of reaching the Sheffield Shield final remain alive, thanks to a crucial unbeaten century from new captain Jason Sangha against South Australia
Match Report:
ScorecardSangha's captain's knock keeps NSW in hunt for Shield final
Jason Sangha marked his first-class captaincy debut with an unbeaten century against South Australia in Adelaide to keep NSW's Marsh Sheffield Shield final hopes intact.
Needing a win to have any chance of featuring in next week's final, a patched-up NSW side ended day one at 6-243 after asked to bat first on a challenging Karen Rolton Oval pitch.
The injury-hit Blues needed to make four changes among their top six, but 22-year-old Sangha stepped up to the task to complete his century just before stumps.
Sangha held the innings together – just as he did last week in a match-saving knock against Western Australia – to finish the day 104 not out.
Sangha struck 12 boundaries and faced 191 balls in four-and-a-half hours at the crease.
NSW went into the crucial final round contest without three captaincy options in Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes and incumbent skipper Kurtis Patterson.
Shot 🔥 Blake Nikitaras has made an impressive start on debut for NSW! He's 44no at lunch #SheffieldShield
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 23, 2022
Watch live and free here: https://t.co/R0iUzuXEt4 pic.twitter.com/lnjz6OuKAm
Henriques suffered a calf injury in last week's draw with Western Australia, Hughes has a broken thumb, while Patterson remained in Sydney with his wife for the birth of their first child.
In addition, allrounder Hayden Kerr (hamstring) and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill (shoulder) were also ruled unavailable for the Blues.
South Australia were notably without Australian representatives Travis Head and Alex Carey.
What a moment for NSW's newest captain!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 23, 2022
On his first day as Blues skipper, Jason Sangha delivered with a superb unbeaten ton.#SheffieldShield | @MarshGlobal pic.twitter.com/BOS1Gr9u9h
The absentees allowed the day to be marked by strong debut performances with both bat and ball.
NSW opener Blake Nikitaras was the second-best contributor for the Blues, batting through the first session for 44, including a remarkable pulled six over mid-wicket.
But the same shot was his downfall after lunch as he skied a back-of-a-length delivery from Liam Scott to cover trying to repeat the feat.
Meet the four #SheffieldShield debutants in action in Adelaide today
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 23, 2022
Jordan Buckingham, Bailey Capel and Thomas Kelly for SA, and Blake Nikitaras for NSW pic.twitter.com/HMbeVnjkyM
Meanwhile, Jordan Buckingham, one of three new faces for the Redbacks along with Bailey Capel and Thomas Kelly, was the best with the ball for the home side, returning 3-59.
Among his victims were Matthew Gilkes (41), hard-hitting allrounder Jack Edwards (5) and wicketkeeper Baxter Holt (2).
Chris Tremain, who is coming off just his second first-class score greater than 50 last week against WA, was also unbeaten at stumps on four.
South Australia are the only state without a chance of playing in the March 31 Shield final.