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Kurtis Patterson made it back-to-back half-centuries on his return to the Sheffield Shield as NSW held on to force a draw against Queensland.
Former Test batsman Kurtis Patterson has underlined his successful return to the Sheffield Shield, helping NSW bat out a draw against Queensland.
After NSW were asked to start their second innings with a 167-run deficit on Monday morning, Patterson's 66 helped the Blues to 4-256 when both sides agreed to end play.
Ollie Davies also thrived for NSW, caught in the deep hooking in the final session for 88 after being measured early and taking the game on more late.
The result left both teams without wins from the opening three rounds, with two draws each.
But this fixture was an undoubted personal victory for Patterson.
NSW's captain as recently as two seasons ago, the left-hander was only picked for three Shield matches by the Blues last summer and again started 2024-25 out of the side.
But with a raft of players unavailable through Australia and Australia A commitments, selectors were forced to bring him back in, at No.3.
And the two-time Test representative delivered, after admitting he once feared his first-class career was over.
The 31-year-old played a lone hand with 91 for the Blues in the first innings, before again shining bright on Monday.
Patterson played one of the shots of the day with a flourishing square-drive off Mitchell Swepson (2-83), as one of six boundaries in his innings.
And he barely looked troubled until rain briefly interrupted play in the second session, and Swepson ripped one back between bat and pad to bowl him on his first ball back.
But by then, the game had been saved for NSW, with Patterson and Davies' 117-run third-wicket stand counteracting the Bulls' rain-interrupted first-innings total of 5-406.
Davies' runs also marked his best outing so far this summer, before he enters Australia A's camp later this week to face India A in Melbourne.