NSW’s hopes of reaching the Sheffield Shield final remain alive, thanks to a crucial unbeaten century from new captain Jason Sangha against South Australia.

AAP23-Mar-2022Jason Sangha marked his first-class captaincy debut with an unbeaten century against South Australia in Adelaide to keep NSW’s Sheffield Shield final hopes intact.Needing a win to have any chance of featuring in next week’s final, a patched-up NSW side ended day one at 6-243 after being sent in to bat on a challenging Karen Rolton Oval pitch.The injury-hit Blues needed to make four changes among their top-six, but 22-year-old Sangha stepped up to the task to complete his century just before stumps.Sangha held the innings together – just as he did last week in a match-saving knock against Western Australia – to finish the day on 104.Sangha struck 12 boundaries and faced 191 balls in four-and-a-half hours at the crease.NSW went into the crucial final round contest without three captaincy options in Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes and incumbent skipper Kurtis Patterson.Henriques suffered a calf injury in last week’s draw with Western Australia, Hughes has a broken thumb, while Patterson remained in Sydney with his wife for the birth of their first child.In addition, allrounder Hayden Kerr (hamstring) and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill (shoulder) were also ruled unavailable for the Blues.South Australia were notably without Australian representatives Travis Head and Alex Carey.The absentees allowed the day to be marked by strong debut performances with both bat and ball.NSW opener Blake Nikitaras was the second-best contributor for the Blues, batting through the first session for 44, including a remarkable pulled six over mid-wicket.Meanwhile, Jordan Buckingham, one of three new faces for the Redbacks along with Bailey Capel and Thomas Kelly, was the best with the ball for the home side, returning 3-59. Among his victims were Matthew Gilkes (41) and hard-hitting allrounder Jack Edwards (5).South Australia are the only state without a chance of playing in the March 31 Shield final.