ASHES aspirant Phil Jaques was navigating the NSW response on day two of the Pura Cup match against South Australia at the SCG.
The Test opener was unbeaten on 75 with Dominic Thornely yet to score as the Blues reached 2-134 at tea in reply to SA's 9(dec)-399.Jaques put on 122 for the second wicket with Ed Cowan (49) before the No.
3 batsman was dismissed just before the interval.
Part-time spinner Nathan Adcock (1-21) caught the edge of Cowan's bat and first slip Daniel Harris threw out his left hand and took a screamer.
NSW recovered well after tearaway Shaun Tait's (1-33) lively spell after lunch claimed Greg Mail (7) in the gloomy conditions.
SA gloveman Shane Deitz (100no) earlier reached his fifth first class century and his skipper Darren Lehmann immediately closed the innings.
After resuming at 6-263, South Australia progressed nicely along until Jaques pulled off a fine diving catch at mid-wicket to remove Cullen Bailey (23).
It handed Beau Casson his first scalp for NSW with the former WA tweaker fortunate to claim the wicket after Bailey made a hash of pulling a short ball.
Jason Gillespie (22) provided another handy contribution with the bat before Moises Henriques (2-59) trapped him in front with his second ball of the day.
Deitz then upped the tempo with 15 runs coming off one Stuart MacGill over as he and Paul Rofe (25) frustrated the Blues with a 69-run ninth wicket stand.
Deitz was on 95 as No.
11 Shaun Tait walked to the crease but showed plenty of composure to reach triple figures just three balls after being hit in the groin.
The No.7 batsman cut Bollinger for four before reaching the milestone with a quick single.
The SA batsmen continued to feast on MacGill (1-98) with the Test legspinner having figures of 0-58 from his 11 overs today.
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