12/03/2010 12:16 PM
South Australia is struggling to avoid the follow-on target after losing three key wickets in the first session on the third day of the Sheffield Shield clash against NSW at the SCG.
Replying to the Blues' formidable 9-550(dec), the Redbacks are 7-267 at lunch, 283 runs behind.
Mark Cleary (28) and Tim Ludeman (24) are the not out batsmen.
Left-arm finger spinner Stephen O'Keefe has claimed three scalps, with paceman Stuart Clark and Trent Copeland picking up two apiece.
South Australia, resuming on 4-164, struck disaster in just the fourth over of the day.
Aaron O'Brien had added just one run to his overnight score of 36 before edging Clark to Usman Khawaja who completed a good catch low down at gully.
O'Brien looked unconvinced the ball had carried but was soon on his way with the Redbacks 5-177.
Australian T20 representative and former Blue Dan Christian joined Cameron Borgas at the crease and patiently made his way to 13 from 44 balls until he launched an audacious shot off O'Keefe's bowling.
The ball flew off the leading edge and was comfortable taken by Mitchell Starc at cover point.
The visitors slumped to 7-218 when Borgas' stubborn knock came to an end on 62, caught behind by Peter Nevill off the impressive Copeland.
His innings lasted 143 balls and featured seen fours in what was virtually a lone hand.
Late on day two, Mark Cosgrove picked up his third consecutive duck as South Australia struggled to stumps.
The desperately out-of-form No.4 lasted just two balls before turning O'Keefe to Steve Smith at short leg, the Australian Test squad member juggling the sharp chance before clutching it to his body.
Cosgrove's dismissal left the Redbacks a precarious 3-84.
James Smith was the first batsman to go with the score on 22.
The opener fell victim to a lovely piece of bowling from Stuart Clark (1-24), edging an off-cutter to namesake Steve Smith diving forward at second slip.
Daniel Harris (54) and Michael Klinger (29) partially repaired the damage with a 58–run stand for the second wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by O'Keefe.
The South Australians slumped further into the mire after losing Cosgrove and Harris in quick succession.
The loss of O'Brien, Christian and Borgas early on day three ended any hope of a miracle recovery.
New South Wales 1st innings 9 (dec) 550
South Australia 1st innings
Smith c Smith b Clark 9
Harris lbw Copeland 54
Klinger lbw O'Keefe 29
Cosgrove c Smith b O'Keefe 0
Borgas c Nevill b Copeland 62
O'Brien c Khawaja b Clark 37
Christian c Starc b O'Keefe 13
Ludeman not out 24
Cleary not out 28
Extras: 11 (5lb, 5nb, 1w)
Total: 267 (7 wickets; 91 overs)
FOW: 1-22, 2-80, 3-84, 4-104, 5-177, 6-206, 7-218
Bowling
Copeland 24 – 7 – 55 – 2 (4nb, 1w)
Clark 20 – 5 – 62 - 2
Starc 9 – 2 – 35 - 0 (1nb)
Smith 10 – 2 – 23 – 0
O'Keefe 28 – 5 – 87 - 3