NSW are reeling towards a 14th straight Sheffield Shield game without a win after former Blues junior Nathan McAndrew put South Australia well on top in Adelaide.
The Blues went to stumps on day three at Adelaide Oval on 6-99, still needing 224 more runs to chase down their fourth-innings target of 323.
After taking 5-42 in the first innings, McAndrew was again the main destroyer on Tuesday as he took three wickets for the Redbacks to leave the Blues in trouble.
Former Blue Harry Conway also took another wicket, with Jason Sangha the last to fall for three.
NSW wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes was left fuming when given out lbw to Wes Agar to a ball that appeared to hit him outside off stump late in the day, swinging his bat in anger as he walked up the players' race.
McAndrew's wickets included Daniel Hughes in the shadows of stumps, caught behind on 58 after being close to the last resistance for the Blues.
McAndrew also had Kurtis Patterson lbw for 10, Ryan Hackney caught behind for two, and Moises Henriques in similar fashion on four.
At one stage McAndrew had figures of 3-6 after eight overs, before Hughes hit him for back-to-back boundaries through the offside. The seamer finished the day with 4-19.
Born in Wollongong and a Sydney Thunder player in the Big Bash League, McAndrew was never given the chance to represent NSW in the Sheffield Shield.
But after making his debut for the Redbacks two seasons ago, he has proven a nemesis for the Blues.
He took 6-97 against NSW at the end of last summer, before his nine wickets in this match.
NSW's situation comes despite debutant Jack Nisbet taking 5-53 in South Australia's second innings on Tuesday.
But it was Redbacks No.5 Nathan McSweeney who stole the show for the hosts, hitting his third first-class century before being bowled by Nisbet for an even 100.
McSweeney was the last man out for the Redbacks when he dragged a ball back on to his own stumps, after going from 72 to 100 with No.11 Conway down the other end.
The Redbacks had lost their first-round match to Tasmania, but have been much improved with the ball in this match.
NSW have not won a match in the red-ball format since way back in February 2022, after going without a victory last season and drawing with Queensland in the opening round of this summer.
