Kurtis Patterson has extra reason to celebrate his 100th Sheffield Shield appearance after raising his bat for a half-century for NSW against South Australia.
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The tall left-hander passed 50 for the 42nd time in his first-class career with a four past third man in the final hour on day two at the SCG on Friday.
Patterson (59no off 110 balls) appears to have put the hosts in control of their first clash since the competition resumed.
NSW (202, 4-166) went to stumps 171 runs ahead of the visitors, who were all out for 197 and will have to bat in the fourth innings on a tough deck.
Patterson looked more comfortable at the crease than in the first dig, when he nicked off on six, and is the match's top-scorer.
He remains unbeaten alongside Jack Edwards (32 off 52).
Test hopeful Sam Konstas made his second start of the match after surviving a tough chance that flew between fielders in the cordon while he was on four.
But the 20-year-old opener's luck ran out when he chopped on facing Nathan McAndrew (2-39) on 28, having top-scored for NSW with 44 in the first dig.
Back-to-back fours off would-be Test teammate Brendan Doggett (1-61) were highlights of a more direct second stay at the crease for Konstas.
Earlier, Jason Sangha top-scored for South Australia against his former side before catching an edge facing Edwards (3-48).
Sangha (59 off 115 balls) was the only man on either side to score a half-century in the first innings.
The end was nigh for the Redbacks after No.7 Jake Lehmann (31) holed out and handed quick Liam Hatcher (4-41) his best figures for any innings this summer.
Australian Associated Press
