Will Salzmann has produced the best innings of his impressive rookie summer, with a half-century under lights giving NSW a day one lead over Tasmania in Hobart.
After Liam Hatcher took the second five-wicket haul of his career to bowl the hosts out for 136, Salzmann's 73 helped NSW to 2-138 at stumps on Monday.
That has put NSW in the box seat to claim a crucial Sheffield Shield win, with both sides desperately needing a win to keep their hopes of a spot in the final alive.
Salzmann has been one of the shining lights of this summer for the Blues, earning high praise from Nathan Lyon after a third-innings 72 on debut against Western Australia.
And on a day when the pink ball moved around and most batters struggled to get in at Ninja Stadium, Salzmann was a class above.
The 22-year-old played with soft enough hands to navigate most of a tricky final session under lights, before eventually edging a Jackson Bird ball onto his stumps.
But by then, NSW were on top.
Salzmann pulled Bird and Mitch Owen for two separate boundaries, while also hitting Bird to the deep-cover rope and driving Beau Webster for another four.
His runs helped form a 80-run opening partnership with Sam Konstas, who did the hard work to get to 27 before pulling Owen straight to Meredith on the boundary.
NSW's big day came as captain Jack Edwards temporarily handed the role over to Kurtis Patterson (29no), in a bid to manage his workload after a gruelling few months.
That the Blues even remain in finals contention is notable, given Cricket NSW have announced veteran coach Greg Shipperd will be sacked at season's end.
Earlier on Monday, Hatcher moved the pink ball prodigiously in his career-best figures of 5-51.
After surviving an early onslaught from Test opener Jake Weatherald (19 off 10 balls), Hatcher had the left-hander caught behind trying to pull a short ball.
The right-armer then produced a beauty to swing a ball back and bowl Tim Ward, before snaring Caleb Jewell, pulling to the deep.
Hatcher also had Jake Doran caught behind and cleaned up Jackson Bird, with Charle Wakim's 58 making him the only Tasmanian to pass 20.
