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Tom Cooper and Alex Carey fifties shore up South Australia

Alex Carey cuts the ball watched by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill Getty Images

South Australia 5 for 315 (Cooper 87*, Carey 66*, Weatherald 59, Lehmann 57, West 2-66) v New South Wales

An unbeaten 130-run sixth-wicket stand between Tom Cooper and Alex Carey has put South Australia in a strong position on day one against New South Wales at the SCG.

The Blues had the chance to put the Redbacks under significant pressure when Jake Lehmann fell with the score at 5 for 185. But the in-form Cooper and Australia's short-form vice-captain Carey steadied the innings and then put New South Wales to the sword after tea.

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Cooper continued his fine summer moving to 87 not out with 11 fours and is just 13 away from his third Shield century of the season. Carey has been starved of long-form opportunities given his call-ups to Australia's ODI and T20I teams but he made 66 not out from 124 balls and has a chance to kick on.

Earlier in the day, Jake Weatherald compiled a neat 59 before he holed out to deep square leg. Lehmann made 57 but fell to an odd attempted sweep-shot from a full toss from Jason Sangha.

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Blues debutant left-arm seamer Greg West picked up two wickets, strangling Conor McInerney down the leg side and getting Kelvin Smith caught behind attempting to cut.

South Aust 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st47J WeatheraldCJ McInerney
2nd40KR SmithJ Weatherald
3rd13JS LehmannKR Smith
4th102CJ FergusonJS Lehmann
5th11TLW CooperJS Lehmann
6th9TLW CooperAT Carey
7th17AT CareyNP Winter