Jack Edwards' sparkling start to the summer has continued, with the NSW allrounder adding a Sheffield Shield half-century to his six-wicket haul against Queensland.
NSW went to stumps on day two of their clash with Queensland at 7-337, in reply to the Bulls' first-innings 176 at the new Cricket Central at Sydney Olympic Park.
Edwards was again the star of the day, with the 23-year-old hitting 87 and helping NSW to a 161-run lead.
After taking five wickets on a rain-affected day one, Edwards bowled Gurinder Sandhu early on Thursday morning to finish with career-best figures of 6-36.
He then walked to the wicket with NSW having just lost 3-2, as Queensland threatened to keep the Blues to a minor lead on the second afternoon.
But with Edwards' help, NSW took control.
He hooked Mark Steketee for six, resulting in the ball needing to be changed after it was lost in long grass outside of the field.
The right-hander than cover-drove Steketee's next delivery for four, one of eight boundaries in his knock.
Another six came when Edwards drove Sandhu over cover later in the day for a maximum.
At that point the rising star looked set for his second first-class century, before he was caught low in the slips trying to drive Michael Neser.
Edwards' runs come after he scored 92 in his first white-ball innings of the season last week in a NSW 50-over victory over Tasmania.
Fellow allrounder Hayden Kerr went to stumps not out on 65 on Thursday.
Steketee (1-72) had earlier taken the key wicket of Daniel Hughes for 59 when he swung one back in and drew the left-hander's inside edge.
Hughes had previously driven powerfully through the off-side, but was lucky to survive a tough chance at backward point off Neser on 37.
Neser was among the pick of the bowlers for Queensland, claiming 3-75, while Sandhu picked up 2-71.
