The Redbacks finished at 6-239 thanks to patient knocks by Jake Lehmann (67 off 157) and Callum Ferguson (36 off 137).

After coming together at 3-100 in the second session, they batted for 44 overs and put on 102 runs to save their side, before Ferguson was dismissed off a sharp catch by Moises Henriques at silly point.

Lehmann eventually fell after debutant paceman Greg West found an inside edge in fading light.

West finished with 2-54 after Tom Cooper (10) swatted him to Jason Sangha at mid-on, providing a few nervous moments before Alex Carey (9) and Nick Winter (9) survived until stumps.

The Blues' first innings of 8(dec)-541 - thanks to centuries to Daniel Hughes and Nick Larkin and a 99 to Henriques - put them in the box seat.

And NSW came into Monday with a chance to push for victory with the Redbacks needing 161 just to make the home side bat again.

Spinner Stephen O'Keefe took four of the Blues' wickets, however the NSW attack otherwise failed to make inroads on a flat wicket.

The result leaves the Redbacks winless and on the bottom of the ladder with four draws and two losses, as well as ending NSW's two-game winning streak.

Former Test tweaker O'Keefe (4-88) removed openers Jake Weatherald (36) and Conor McInerney (22) before lunch to give his side a sniff of victory.

Kelvin Smith (22) was the only wicket to fall in the second session before Lehmann and Ferguson steadied the ship.

With the game on the line, the run rate dried up to a trickle as they refused to take any chances or give NSW any opportunities.

Australian Associated Press