South Australia edged closer to a possible come-from-behind win in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG as the Redbacks reached 3-148 at lunch on Wednesday.

South Australia had resumed on day three on 3-55 and Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper were able to negotiate a hostile early spell from Test quick Peter Siddle to notch an unbeaten 127-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Ferguson has struck eight boundaries in his innings of 67 while Cooper has shrugged off being hit on the helmet by Siddle to score 58 not out from 115 deliveries with nine fours.

Paceman Jayde Herrick limped off midway through his ninth over of the innings in the pre-lunch session but soon returned to the field, despite a suspected ankle problem.

Nineteen wickets tumbled on Tuesday’s second day of play, when Victoria were rolled for 181.

The last-wicket partnership of 77 between Ryan Carters (35 not out) and Jon Holland was the highest of the innings. No.11 batsman Holland slogged a career-best 55.

Chadd Sayers, a 24-year-old seamer playing in his third first-class game, took 5-57.

Victorian medium-pacer Andrew McDonald (5-21) also claimed a five-wicket haul on Tuesday as South Australia collapsed for 100 in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 220.