Centuries from Mark Cosgrove and Alex Doolan handed Tasmania complete control of South Australia on Tuesday’s opening day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.
The Tigers were 2-354 at stumps with Doolan unbeaten on 141 and Ricky Ponting not out 60.
Cosgrove was run out for a stylish 104 while Test opener Ed Cowan made 35.
Cosgrove and Doolan featured in a 166-run partnership for the second wicket against the Redbacks, whose new captain, South African Johan Botha (1-63), was the sole successful bowler.
Cosgrove and Doolan cashed in after being dropped – Botha turfed a difficult chance from Cosgrove when the left-hander was 47, and Doolan was a dropped by Chadd Sayers when on 37.
Both missed chances came from Nathan Lyon’s bowling, with the Test offspinner ending the day with 0-93 from 29 overs.
Ponting also received a let-off when dropped at second slip by Phil Hughes from Sayers’ bowling three overs before stumps.
SA also lost three fielders to injury with Tom Cooper suffering a suspected broken finger when stopping a Cosgrove drive, Travis Head struck in a shoulder by a ball when fielding close to the wicket, and paceman Gary Putland also injuring a finger.
The injuries were not expected to prevent Cooper, who didn’t return to the field, and Head, who came back after a two-hour absence, from batting in SA’s innings.