South Australia are eyeing a first Sheffield Shield outright win in 20 matches at tea on day three of their clash with Tasmania at Bellerive.

The Redbacks have the Tigers on the ropes at 7-118 chasing a victory target of 212.

Tasmania had steadied at 2-45 at lunch but lost 5-73 in the middle session, including Test opener Ed Cowan for 26.

Young quick Kane Richardson was the chief destroyer for the Redbacks with 3-11 from 11 overs.

Test spinner Nathan Lyon finally was given the ball, bowling four overs for figures of 0-10.

A partnership of 50 between Ben Dunk (34) and James Faulkner (18) briefly threatened to take the game away from SA but they fell in quick succession before the tea break.

Faulkner was lbw to paceman Daniel Worrall at 6-110 and Dunk was trapped in front by Redbacks’ skipper Johan Botha eight runs later.

The Tigers will resume with allrounder Luke Butterworth eight not out and Xavier Doherty yet to face a ball.

The Redbacks look certain to take outright points for the first time since November 2010.

That was also at Bellerive and came after a poor first-innings total (55) – they made just 112 in their first dig in this match.

Richardson struck early to remove Mark Cosgrove (2) and Steve Cazzulino (0) and have Tasmania 2-2 before Cowan and skipper George Bailey (20) steadied.

Bailey nicked Chadd Sayers to keeper Tim Ludeman at 3-49 before Cowan was also caught behind pushing forward for 4-56.

Aiden Blizzard (4) top-edged a pull shot off Richardson at 5-60 before Dunk and Faulkner offered some hope for the Tigers.

Earlier, the Tigers’ pace attack took little time to mop up the Redbacks’ tail, after the visitors had resumed at 7-225, bowling them out for 237.