South Australia 110 and 53 for 3 trail New South Wales 394 (Patterson 71, Maddinson 69, Davies 56, Gilkes 55, McAndrew 4-90) by 231 runs

Dropped from NSW’s Sheffield Shield side for most of last summer and fearing his career could be over, Patterson made it three straight half-centuries for the Blues on Friday. With NSW well on top, Patterson struck 71 to help NSW to 394 late on day two and a first-innings lead of 284 at Karen Rolton Oval.

Patterson took his time through the majority of his innings, crunching two boundaries through the covers and another through mid on. The two-time Test representative eventually lost his leg stump trying to glance Brendan Doggett, but Patterson has now clearly given himself a second life as a first-class cricketer.

He has made scores of 91, 66 and 71 since his return earlier this month, after only being recalled when NSW found themselves short on batters through Australia A duties.

Wearing a floppy hat, Davies used his feet to hit Pope for four through cover, down the ground for a big six and then over cover for four again in quick succession.

Matthew Gilkes also hit 55, while Nathan McAndrew took 4 for 90 for South Australia and Doggett 3 for 90. No South Australians were, however, able to replicate the joy of NSW veteran Bird on day one, who set up the Blues’ dominance.