SANGHA HITS HIS STRIDE
UNBEATEN young gun Jason Sangha has produced his first half-century for NSW, steering the host to 5-285 at stumps on a topsy-turvy opening day of its Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at the SCG.
Sangha, who captained Australia at this year’s under-19 World Cup and has long shouldered the burden of being the sport’s next big thing, finished 70 not out yesterday.
Sangha and fellow teenager Jack Edwards, who will resume on 50, steadied in an unbeaten 104-run stand after their side lost 4-44 either side of tea. Edwards was on 26 when a Riley Meredith bouncer struck his helmet but the 18-year-old was given the green light to continue batting by medicos and brought up his maiden halfcentury in the day’s final over.
Test skipper Tim Paine, who is playing under the captaincy of George Bailey this week, was tidy behind the stumps and would have been suitably impressed with the composed counter-punch from NSW’s youngsters.
Sangha, who has recently picked the brain of RandwickPetersham teammate David Warner and was mentored by Chris Rogers throughout winter, made history by posting his maiden first-class century in last year’s Ashes tour game. Sachin Tendulkar is the only batsman to have scored a firstclass ton against England at a younger age.
But before yesterday’s innings, Sangha’s previous best effort for NSW was the 33 he scored in Adelaide last month.
The right-hander, who finished with a pair when the Blues suffered a lopsided loss to Victoria last week at the MCG, was on 36 when Tasmania took the second new ball yesterday.
Sangha was watchful but also willing to play his shots, depositing a short delivery from former Test paceman Jackson Bird over the rope with a sweetly timed pull shot.
Earlier, Bird ignited a comeback as Tasmania removed well-set batsmen Dan Hughes and Kurtis Patterson for 78 and 56 respectively late in the postlunch session. Bird trapped Hughes lbw, having held a catch at gully to help Meredith snap the 125-run partnership between Hughes and Patterson.
Former Test keeper Matthew Wade found himself in the unusual position of fielding at mid-on and fine leg early on then delivered three overs of medium pace in the final session, including the last over.