Matthew Wade and Tim Paine score half centuries on day one of Sheffield Shield match against NSW

Matthew Wade and Test captain Tim Paine were the best of Tasmania’s top seven batsmen, who all reached double figures without landing a knockout punch on day one of their clash with NSW.

TASMANIA’S national duo went toe-to-toe with their two Australian counterparts from NSW to hold the fort on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield clash at Blundstone Arena.

Matthew Wade (57) and Test captain Tim Paine (61 not out) were the best of a Tigers top seven who all reached double figures without landing a knockout punch on the Blues, with the hosts reaching 7-258 by stumps.

A double wicket over with the second new ball from left arm firebrand Mitch Starc (3-65) swung the momentum back the visitors’ way in the last half-hour after Paine and Beau Webster (30) had combined for a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Tim Paine of the Tigers bats during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and New South Wales at Blundstone Arena. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Spinner Nathan Lyon also played his part in picking up the prized scalp of Wade when the Tigers skipper flashed hard and edged a wide ball to slip.

It was the theme on a grinding day of action, with Tasmania looking to get itself into a relatively strong position on several occasions only for the Blues to find a breakthrough when they needed one.

“I think any time you are sent in at Bellerive and you end up 250-plus you’d probably say you’ve had a pretty decent day,” Paine said.

“I think they’d be probably pretty happy as well so I’d say probably pretty even first day.

“We have played at Bellerive long enough now to know it is the kind of wicket you are never actually in, that’s why hundreds down here are like gold.”

Mitchell Starc bowls. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

While the Tigers were unable to consider their own speed demon in Riley Meredith (illness), Starc cranked up the radar late in the day, impressing his national captain.

“He bowled a really good spell to Jake Doran up the hill too which isn’t probably suited to him, but he showed his versatility there.”

The Blues do have an injury concern, with all-rounder Sean Abbott splitting his webbing and only able to complete 6.2 overs.

“It was nice to find a bit of rhythm there and take the handbrake off a little bit and try and get into a rhythm of bowling fast and try and be aggressive,” Starc said of his own performance.

“That’s a role I play in a lot of teams I play with.”