Lawrence Neil-Smith has taken seven wickets for Tasmania in a roller-coaster of a Sheffield Shield match with NSW, whose own bowling attack inspired an early collapse in reply on day two.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Bad light and rain prevented play from going ahead in the third session after Mitchell Owen (70 not out) helped Tasmania recover to 6-166 by close of play at the SCG in reply to NSW's 224.
The sides appear on an even keel heading into day three; the visitors trailing by 58 runs with four wickets in hand.
In a sour note for NSW, and potentially also the BBL's Sydney Thunder, batter Ollie Davies suffered a hairline fracture in his left little finger while fielding on day two.
Davies had been the Blues' saviour with the bat in the first innings, scoring an unbeaten 81, and could appear further down the order in the second.
The 23-year-old came off after suffering his injury and did not return to field.
"I don't think he'll take any part in fielding for the rest of the game," NSW captain Moises Henriques told AAP.
"I don't think he can come in before seven, but from there he's going to be OK to bat. I don't know how long after this game (he might be sidelined)."
Davies will be monitored ahead of the Thunder's first game of the BBL against the Brisbane Heat on December 12.
Neil-Smith (7-58) picked up where he left off following a rain-affected first day, dispatching veteran quick Jackson Bird (12) to break a 52-run partnership with Davies.
The Tigers made light work of the Blues from there and when he bowled Chris Tremain for a duck, Neil-Smith had career-best figures with the hosts all out for 224.
Neil-Smith's return was the sixth-best in a first-class match for Tasmania since the turn of the century, and the best since fellow paceman Sam Rainbird took 8-21 two summers ago.
"(Neil-Smith) has bowled unbelievably this year," Owen told AAP.
"We've been running with two main quicks (Neil-Smith and Gabe Bell), they've been awesome."
Just as NSW did on day one, the Tasmanian batting order misfired early.
Bird (3-46) took the first three wickets as the visitors fell to 3-30 on a tricky deck, having survived a dropped catch and appeal on their way to 0-29.
Things threatened to spiral further out of control when Henriques, enjoying a great summer with the ball, had rival captain Jordan Silk caught behind in the over before lunch.
In at eight, Owen inspired a fightback, partnering with Jake Doran (42no) in an unbeaten 96-run stand that helped the visitors bounce back from 6-70.
When the covers came on, 22-year-old Owen (70) was four runs shy of equalling his best first-class score.
"Ideally if we can get 120, 150, 200 ahead, that'll put some real pressure on their young batting line-up," Owen said.
Australian Associated Press
