Ricky Ponting tuned up for the Test summer with a cracking knock before Tasmania’s bowlers struck early blows against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Tasmania declared their first innings at 3-403, with Ponting smashing seven sixes in an unbeaten 85.

Tigers paceman Luke Butterworth then took two wickets in four balls as SA stumbled to 2-56 at tea on Wednesday’s rain-affected second day.

Butterworth dismissed Phil Hughes for three, caught at third slip by Ponting in identical fashion to the dismissals which curtailed his Test career last summer.

Three balls later, Butterworth trapped Tom Cooper lbw for a duck as the Redbacks slumped to 2-9.

Strokeplayer Callum Ferguson (32 not out) and second-gamer Sam Miller (21 not out) steadied the home side in reply to a Tasmanian innings restricted by rain.

Ponting was in fine touch and set for his 78th first-class century, but the loss of two and half hours to rain on Wednesday prompted the Tigers to declare with the 37-year-old short of the milestone.

Ponting struck five boundaries in a heartening 126-ball innings ahead of the three-Test series against South Africa starting next month.