South Australia’s batsmen have consolidated after the Redbacks were edged out for first-innings points in the day-night Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at Adelaide Oval.
At tea on day three, SA were 2-96 with a lead by 92 runs after the Blues’ No.11 Doug Bollinger hit a single just before lunch to seal the two vital competition points for third-placed NSW.
In SA’s second dig, Sam Raphael is on the verge of a half-century – not out on 41 – and Tom Cooper unbeaten on 22.
Michael Klinger fell for just five when the right-hander slashed at a wide Bollinger (1-21) delivery attempting to hit over the slips, only to feather an edge into the gloves of Blues skipper Peter Nevill.
Raphael and Andrew McDonald (23) picked up the run-scoring with the latter punishing Nevill for a missed catching opportunity behind the stumps by smashing back-to-back boundaries off Josh Hazlewood’s (1-21) bowling.
Hazlewood returned fire two balls later when McDonald was sent packing in controversial circumstances.
The Victorian attempted to work a delivery onto the leg side but was caught behind and given out, despite replays suggesting he did not touch the ball.
McDonald exited in a fiery mood after remonstrating towards the umpire.
Earlier, Bollinger hit a single to surpass the Redbacks’ first-innings score of 288 and bank the crucial two points for the third-placed NSW over SA, who sit second on the table.
Nevill stood up for the Blues, dragging the visitors over the line with a sturdy 71 as NSW were dismissed for 292.
Redbacks captain Johan Botha (4-70) and explosive paceman Kane Richardson (3-61) ensured numerous nervous moments for the visitors.