The NSW Blues are in the box seat after the third day of their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania at Bankstown Oval, with the visitors 6-147 in their second innings at stumps and still trailing by 10 runs.
Earlier today the NSW Blues were bowled out for 394, giving them a first innings lead of 157 after a superb effort from the lower order.
Gurinder Sandhu top scored with 97 not out. Having withstood an early barrage of bouncers from Jackson Bird at the start of day three, Sandhu attacked the Tasmanian bowlers with gusto.
Fighting fire with fire, he smashed eight fours and five massive sixes during his three-and-a-half hour stay at the crease.
He shared in an 89 run eighth wicket stand with Stephen O’Keefe (87) before adding an even 100 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon (42).
While Sandhu’s knock was entertaining, it would not have been possible without the determined O’Keefe at the other end.
Unbeaten on 53 overnight, O’Keefe ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over during the first hour and was instrumental in getting NSW to a first innings lead.
He faced 206 balls during his innings and hit 10 boundaries.
Nathan Lyon was NSW’s leading wicket taker during Tasmania’s second innings, taking 3-46 from 11 overs. Gurinder Sandhu (1-31) and Stephen O’Keefe (1-33) are the other wicket takers while Beau Webster (65) and Clive Rose (2) are the not out batsmen for Tasmania.
