A stylish Ricky Ponting neared a century and helped Tasmania bank vital innings points against hapless South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Ponting compiled an unbeaten 91 and his captain George Bailey made 65 as the Tigers took a 73-run lead by the close of Thursday’s second day.

After bowling SA out for just 126, Ponting steered his state to commanding 3-199 at stumps – all after the opening day was washed out.

The last-placed Redbacks crashed spectacularly with the bat, their last seven wickets falling for just 15 runs.

Opener Tom Stray (51) posted his maiden first-class half-century but none of the last eight Redback batsmen passed seven runs.

Tigers paceman James Faulkner (4-22) and Jackson Bird (4-48) were the destroyers after SA won the toss.

The Redbacks were skittled in less than 50 overs, with only captain Michael Klinger (25) and teenager Travis Head (21) joining Stray with double-figure scores.

Tasmania, who entered the fixture in third-place on the Shield table, wasted little time in making ground on competition leaders Western Australia.

The Tigers now have 30 points, equal with second-placed Queensland – both states just two points behind WA.

Ponting was supreme after Test opener Ed Cowan (11) and Alex Doolan (14) fell cheaply and Mark Cosgrove retired hurt on 13 when struck on the left hand by a Gary Putland bouncer.

The former Australian captain and Bailey combined in a 142-run partnership for the third wicket against the demoralised South Australians.

The pair ensured Tasmania collected first innings points within 30 overs on a day’s play extended by an hour to compensate for Wednesday’s wash-out.

Ponting, in his first Shield game since October last year, hammered SA with a blend of trademark back foot strokes, powerful drives and deft placement.

Ponting was within sight of his 76th first-class century at stumps, having struck nine fours and six from his 114 balls faced.