Adam Zampa showed he’s a legitimate red ball option for next year’s tour of India after he claimed three wickets for the Blues who responded well after parting ways with former coach Phil Jaques earlier in the week.
It’s been a bleak start to the season for NSW but their winless streak could be over after they rolled Victoria for 209 on day one in Melbourne, with Zampa and Sean Abbott combining for seven wickets.
Abbott finished with the impressive figures of 4-56, knocking over rookie Ashley Chandrasinghe for a duck in the third over before he finished the innings by removing Todd Murphy.
But all eyes were on Zampa, with the leg-spinner playing a first-class match for the first time in three years when he was with South Australia.
It’s all part of a late push for the 30-year-old to fight his way into the Aussie side as he looks to make his Test debut in spin friendly conditions next year.
He bowled beautifully on the first day, removing both Will Sutherland and Sam Harper for 39 before he got rid of Sam Elliott just as he started to look like he might replicate last week’s heroics with the bat on debut.
Zampa finished with 3-57 from his 18 overs to give interim coach Greg Shipperd the perfect start to his tenure as he attempts to salvage the Blues’ season.
It was another disappointing day with the bat for Victoria, whose first innings struggles continue after recent scores 121 and 63 with, nine players making starts but no one reaching 50.
NSW got off to a flyer in their first innings with the usually patient Dan Hughes racing to 34 off 28 before he was bowled by Fergus O’Neill, with the visitors to resume day two on 2/61 with Jason Sangha and Moises Henriques at the crease.
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Day one, Blundstone Arena
A maiden first-class century for Nathan McSweeney and a timely ton from Jake Weatherald have South Australia slightly on top of their Sheffield Shield match in Tasmania despite Peter Siddle continuing his hot start to the summer.
After hitting an unbeaten 99 earlier in the year, McSweeney broke through for his first triple figure score only to be trapped in front by Beau Webster for 118 in the penultimate over of the day.
His patient knock came after Weatherald had earlier smashed a sparkling hundred off just 132 deliveries.
But they were the only members of South Australia’s top seven to score more than 11 as Siddle (4-59) kept Tasmania in the contest with the first four wickets of the day to leave the visitors at 8/309 at stumps.
It was a good day for Siddle who earlier inked a new deal to stay with the Strikers after his competition-best 30 wickets in last season’s BBL.
Tasmania will fancy their chances of chasing down a first innings lead if they can wrap up the tail quickly on day two, with the home side looking to lock in second spot ahead of the Big Bash League break.
