Nineteen wickets tumbled on Tuesday’s second day of play as Victoria took a stranglehold of their Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at the MCG.
Chasing 302 for victory, the winless Redbacks will resume on Wednesday on 3-55.
Tom Cooper is 21 not out and Callum Ferguson is unbeaten on 14 for South Australia on a pitch that has offered plenty of assistance to the pace bowlers.
James Smith and Michael Klinger were both out for one, caught at second slip off the bowling of Test quick Peter Siddle (2-21).
The Redbacks also lost Tomas Stray who was caught behind for 18 to Jayde Herrick’s bowling.
Fourth-placed Victoria were rolled for 181 in their second innings, although it could have been much worse.
The last-wicket partnership of 77 between Ryan Carters (35 not out) and Jon Holland was the highest of the innings.
Holland slogged a career-best 55 including eight fours off 39 deliveries.
Chadd Sayers, a 24-year-old seamer nicknamed “Leo” and playing in his third first-class game, took 5-57 from 24 overs.
Rob Quiney (19) and Chris Rogers (36) shared a 56-run opening stand before Victoria lost 9-48 including Aaron Finch who completed a pair and Cameron White for three.
“It has been a funny day really, 19 wickets today,” Sayers said.
“They were nine for 104.They got away from us a little bit.
“But we’re still in the game with Tom Cooper and Ferg at the crease.
“There’s been a lot of high scores in the fourth innings here so that gives us a lot of confidence.”
Holland said he had been given a licence from skipper White to play his shots.
“The ball was doing a bit so I thought I may as well give myself some room,” said Holland, who has been ticking off career milestones.
Holland claimed 6-29 in a one-day game and seven wickets in a Shield match, both against South Australia in Adelaide earlier this month.
The left-arm spinner said the ball was still nibbling around for the seamers and he was happy to let the quicks do the damage on Wednesday.
Medium-pacer Andrew McDonald took 5-21 off 16 overs as South Australia collapsed for 100 in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 220.
South Australia had resumed on 4-81 and lost 6-19.
The day’s tally of 19 wickets fell one run shy of the record for a Shield game at the MCG.
Sayers celebrated his maiden five-wicket haul.
“I had a rookie contract a few years back and then I got booted so to come back and prove that I am good enough to play at this level, it’s an amazing feeling,” he said.
