Tasmanian quick Jackson Bird made an early inroad as South Australia bat for survival in the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

The Redbacks, after being forced to follow-on, were 1-15 at tea on day three in their second innings – still 164 runs behind Tasmania.

Bird had SA second-gamer Sam Miller caught by Ricky Ponting at slip for two.

Redback recruit Phil Hughes was not out four at the tea break, with Tom Cooper unbeaten on 10.

Earlier, paceman Luke Butterworth took six wickets to help Tasmania bank first innings points.

Butterworth claimed his best first-class figures of 6-49 as the Redbacks were bowled out in their first innings for 224, 179 runs behind the Tigers’ 3(dec)-403.

Tasmania enacted the follow-on but their lead would have been greater if not for resistance from SA wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Ludeman and tailender Chadd Sayers.

Ludeman compiled 85 and Sayers made 38 not out, the pair combining for a 107-run stand for the ninth wicket – the biggest partnership of the innings and the highest ninth-wicket union for SA against Tasmania.

Ludeman and Sayers each registered their highest first-class scores to frustrate Tasmania, who were also hampered by rain which caused about two hours of play to be lost on Thursday.

The SA pair scored at a run a minute before tweaker Jason Krejza broke the partnership.

Two balls after smacking Krejza for six over mid-wicket, Ludeman attempted to sweep a fullish delivery but missed and was out lbw.

Soon after, Krejza took his second wicket when trapping No.11 Gary Putland (four) lbw to end SA’s first innings.