Hughes, Larkin tons hand NSW the edge

The second double-century opening stand of the season from New South Wales pair Daniel Hughes and Nick Larkin dragged the Blues back into the game against South Australia at the SCG.

Just three weeks after piling up a 251-run stand against Queensland in Canberra, the pair again made twin hundreds to leave the Blues just 157 runs behind in the first innings with 10 wickets in hand.

Both men showed extreme patience. Larkin struck just four fours and two sixes in his third first-class century. Hughes absorbed 254 balls for his 105 not-out and only found the boundary seven times, in his fifth first-class century.

The Redbacks cycled through seven bowlers without making the breakthrough.

Earlier, Alex Carey made his second Sheffield Shield century. He finished 110 not-out as the Redbacks were bowled out for 380. Tom Cooper wasn't able to make his third hundred of the Shield season falling for 89 early in the morning. He was caught brilliantly down the leg side by Peter Nevill from a regulation leg glance.

Carey didn't get much support from the Redbacks tail but they hung around long enough for him to reach his century with a powerful strike down the ground off Steve O'Keefe. Blues debutant Greg West finished with 3 for 88.