George swerves through Blues

New South Wales 7 for 133 (George 5 for 28) v South Australia 9 for 478 declared (Christian 131*, Harris 89, Klinger 83, Starc 3 for 126
Scorecard

Peter George, the sometime Australia Test bowler, swerved through the New South Wales batting after Dan Christian's unbeaten century had lifted South Australia to an intimidating 478 on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.

Largely forgotten as a national team prospect since taking three wickets on his debut against India in Bangalore in 2010, George bowled a full length and gained devious swing on a warm afternoon to pluck 5 for 28 and send the Blues sliding to 7 for 133 at the close.

His success was helped by the heavy legs the NSW batsmen gained across nearly nine hours in the field, as Christian ensured a first day platform of 4 for 309 was not wasted by the lower order.

The visitors had begun the day in decent fashiion, Mitchell Starc swinging the second new ball to have Aiden Blizzard lbw and Tim Ludeman bowled between bat and pad in the second over of the morning.

However Christian found a willing ally in Kane Richardson, and together they set about disheartening a Blues team that continued to miss Beau Casson, in hospital after the recurrence of a congenital heart condition.

After Richardson fell and Christian had reached his century, George provided an indicator this might be his match by heaving Starc's full toss for a mighty six.

He followed up by curving the ball dangerously into a NSW team stacked with left-handers. Nic Maddinson was first to go, bowled off his pads, then Phil Hughes may have had reason to question his lbw verdict.

Next ball, to widespread disbelief, Simon Katich flicked a slower ball to midwicket, and George continued his merry march through the batting after tea by finding Moises Henriques' outside edge and Usman Khawaja's front pad.

Christian also contributed, coaxing an edge from the NSW captain Ben Rohrer then having Sean Abbott painfully lbw via an unpadded back thigh, and stumps arrived with SA in complete command.