Magician upstaged

TASMANIA unleashed ambidextrous spin magician Nivethan Radhakrishnan on the Sheffield Shield on Friday but it was NSW’s Hayden Kerr who stole the show at the SCG, backing up from a scintillating BBL|11 to drag the home side from the brink of collapse and back into the contest.

Radhakrishnan, 19, has the incredibly rare ability to bamboozle opposition batters by turning the ball with either his left or right hand.

He dazzled on the international stage at the recent Under-19 World Cup but was made to wait patiently until the 54th over before he could face the NSW batting order.

Just 12 balls into his first class career, Radhakrishnan dispatched former Test gloveman Peter Nevill, caught by ex-Geelong star Eamonn Vines.

He finished the first day of his first-class career with 1-29 from his seven overs.

After staggering to 6-143 at the tea break, all-rounder Kerr, who was the hero for the Sydney Sixers the last time he played at the SCG with an unbeaten 98 in the BBL Finals, masterminded a stunning comeback. Kerr belted 12 boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 87 runs.

Chris Tremain (38) played second fiddle and was the last wicket to fall before NSW finished the day at 8-272.