The Blues return fire after falling for 141

Tasmania 4 for 110 (Bevan 51) trail New South Wales 141 (Mail 33, Hilfenhaus 3-29, Griffith 3-50) by 31 runs
Scorecard
Points table

Tasmania were made to fight as they closed in on first-innings points after hurting New South Wales' hopes of defending their Pura Cup total by knocking them over for 141 on the first day at Bellerive Oval. The Blues are in a three-way tie for third with South Australia and Western Australia, but their plans for advancement were derailed when they were dismissed in 53.4 overs after being sent in.

The opener Greg Mail top scored with 33, but he was part of a collapse of 4 for 13 and the only bright spot of the rest of the innings for New South Wales was Brad Haddin's 24-ball 29, which included two fours and a couple of sixes. Adam Griffith and Ben Hilfenhaus were the main problems with three wickets while Brendan Drew and Brett Geeves each collected two victims.

Tasmania's innings followed a similar pattern to their opponents', with Tim Paine and Michael Bevan pushing them to 105 in a 93-run second-wicket stand. However, Paine (36) fell to Grant Lambert, who also dismissed the nightwatchman Griffith in the third-last over, and Michael Bevan slipped up on 51 as they finished at 4 for 110.

Trevor Bayliss, the NSW coach, said the match was still very much alive. "It's been an interesting day's cricket," he told AAP. "There was a little bit in the wicket this morning and their guys bowled very well and we made a good start but didn't bat as well as we probably could've done or should've done."