An inspired spell from boom all-rounder Steve Smith has helped New South Wales to an emphatic outright victory over South Australia late on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG.
Smith, who will travel to New Zealand as part of Australia's 14-man squad for the two-Test series beginning next Friday, took seven of the eight Redbacks wickets to fall in the final session to finish with career-best figures of 7-64 off just 16 overs.
The 20-year-old's blistering spell caps a remarkable first-class season that saw him hit four centuries with the bat, including a hard-hitting 100 in the Blues only innings of the match.
The innings-and-39-run victory sees the Blues finish the season in third spot behind Queensland and Victoria who will contest the Sheffield Shield final next week.
Having resumed at 2-130 at tea, the Redbacks were bundled out for 244 to crash to a third consecutive defeat.
Mark Cosgrove returned to form with a bang after three consecutive ducks, belting 105 off 115 balls, while James Smith (79) also offered some resistance at the top of the order.
But their efforts were not enough to avoid a crushing defeat.
It was a bright start to the final session as Cosgrove and Smith, who put on 167 runs for the third wicket, took to the Blues bowlers smashing 54 runs off the first nine overs before Smith became Smith's first victim to trigger a stunning collapse.
Cameron Borgas lasted just 10 deliveries before he hit a long-hop from Smith straight to Trent Copeland at mid wicket.
Cosgrove continued to play his shots, bringing up his 11th first-class century which included 19 boundaries, shortly before the drinks break.
But when the burly left-hander was trapped lbw by Smith three overs later, the Redbacks slumped to 5-209 still needing a further 74 runs to make the hosts bat again.
Smith continued to rip through the visitors removing Dan Christian (five) and Tim Ludeman (one) in quick succession to complete his maiden first-class five-wicket haul.
Mark Cleary was next to depart, run-out attempting a suicidal single, before Dan Christian (29) became Smith's sixth victim of the innings when he feathered an edge to Peter Neville behind the stumps.
Fittingly, the promising leg-spinner completed the romp when Peter George edged to Nevill without scoring.
Replying to the Blues formidable first innings total of 9 (dec) 550, the Redbacks were bowled out for 267 in their first innings, shortly after lunch on the third day.
Blues skipper Simon Katich asked the Redbacks to bat again and his bowlers responded with two quick wickets before tea.
The Redbacks started day three 4-164 in their first innings but struck disaster in just the fourth over of the day.
O'Brien had added just one run to his overnight score of 36 before edging Clark to Usman Khawaja who completed a good catch low down at gully.
Christian joined Borgas at the crease and patiently made his way to 13 from 44 balls until he launched an audacious shot off Stephen O'Keefe's bowling which led to his demise.
The visitors slumped to 7-218 when Borgas' stubborn knock came to an end on 62 before losing their final three wickets without adding a run.
New South Wales 1st innings 9 (dec) 550
South Australia 1st innings
Smith c Smith b Clark 9
Harris lbw Copeland 54
Klinger lbw O'Keefe 29
Cosgrove c Smith b O'Keefe 0
Borgas c Nevill b Copeland 62
O'Brien c Khawaja b Clark 37
Christian c Starc b O'Keefe 13
Ludeman b Copeland 24
Cleary c Nevill b O'Keefe 28
Putland c Smith b Copeland 0
George not out 0
Extras: 11 (5lb, 5nb, 1w)
Total: 267 (10 wickets; 93.1 overs)
FOW: 1-22, 2-80, 3-84, 4-104, 5-177, 6-206, 7-218, 8-267, 9-267, 10-267
Bowling
Copeland 25.1 – 7 – 55 – 4 (4nb, 1w)
Clark 20 – 5 – 62 - 2
Starc 9 – 2 – 35 - 0 (1nb)
Smith 10 – 2 – 23 – 0
O'Keefe 29 – 6 – 87 – 4
South Australia 2nd innings
Harris c Nevill b Clark 0
Smith c Katich b Smith 79
Klinger b Copeland 9
Cosgrove lbw Smith 105
Borgas c Copeland b O'Keefe 3
O'Brien c Forrest b Smith 5
Christian c Nevill b Smith 29
Ludeman lbw Smith 1
Cleary run out Copeland 5
Putland not out 0
George c Nevill b Smith 0
Extras: 8 (4b, 3lb, 1nb)
Total: 244 (10 wickets; 54 overs)
FOW: 1-0, 2-17, 3-184, 4-189, 5-209, 6-218, 7-228, 8-239, 9-244, 10-244.
Bowling
Clark 9 – 1 – 45 - 1
Copeland 14 – 2 – 60 - 1
Starc 9 – 2 – 39 - 0 (1nb)
O'Keefe 6 – 1 – 29 - 0
Smith 16 – 4 -64 - 7