Hazlewood steps up as Redbacks fall down

South Australia 288 (Klinger 63, Ludeman 62, Smith 50, Copeland 3-70) and 6 for 96 trail New South Wales 6 for 565 dec by 181 runs
Scorecard

Josh Hazlewood, the fast bowler, made a quick recovery from a side injury to help New South Wales close in on an outright win after South Australia limped to 6 for 96 at stumps on the third day. Hazlewood and Trent Copeland picked up two early wickets each to have the hosts 4 for 31 as they faltered in their attempt to make the Blues bat again.

They need another 181 runs to achieve that goal after being asked to follow-on when they were dismissed for 288 in the second session. Cameron Borgas, who was not out on 34, will be the key for South Australia on the final day and he will have Cullen Bailey for company.

Hazlewood, 19, was unable to bowl on Saturday after hurting his side in the warm-ups, but he opened in the second innings and moved one away to have James Smith (0) caught by Phillip Hughes in the slips in the fourth over. He followed up by bowling Mark Cosgrove after tea when he got too far across his stumps, and delivered 11 overs that cost only 10 runs in a gutsy display.

His new-ball partner Copeland had already picked up Daniel Harris with a nick behind and he added Michael Klinger an over after Cosgrove went to leave the Redbacks in desperate trouble. Steve O'Keefe, the left-arm spinner, broke through twice in three balls late in the day with catches in close from Simon Katich, who captured Aaron O'Brien (29) and Tim Ludeman (0).

New South Wales took a lead of 277 after the hosts lost their last four first-innings wickets for 16 and Katich decided to give his bowlers another go. Ludeman's 62 was the standout for South Australia, who resumed at 4 for 185, but Borgas (36) and O'Brien (44) also made contributions as they tried to get close to the Blues' 6 for 565.

O'Keefe picked up O'Brien caught and bowled off his glove and Ludeman, who swept to deep square leg, in his 3 for 98 while Copeland ended the innings to collect 3 for 70. Two first-innings points couldn't move the Blues off the bottom of the table, but the expected outright victory will give them a chance to remain an outside hope of making the final.