Ex-Test opener Phil Hughes hit a superb 158 as South Australia scored 443 in their first innings for a 97-run lead over Victoria on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.

Callum Ferguson (73) and 18-year-old Travis Head (66) both made half-centuries for the Redbacks who had resumed on 2-244 in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 346.

John Hastings claimed 5-66, including 3-0 in five deliveries, to spark a middle-order collapse as the Redbacks went from 2-306 to 5-311.

The Australia A representative has taken 22 wickets in five Shield matches this season, as well as hitting 80 runs in Victoria’s first innings against South Australia.

Ferguson and Hughes added 189 for the third wicket before falling in consecutive overs to Hastings.

Victoria took the new ball after 88 overs and Hastings broke through with the fifth delivery, Ferguson caught at first slip at 3-306.

Hastings struck again at the start of his next over as Hughes misjudged an inswinger and was trapped lbw after offering no shot. New batsman Johan Botha spooned a catch to gully for a second-ball duck.

The 17-Test veteran Hughes, who lost his spot in the national side 11 months ago, has raced to the top of the Shield runscoring table with 510 runs at 56.66.

Hughes batted for almost six hours and struck 19 boundaries to keep his name in front of Test selectors.

Tim Ludeman fell to Hastings for 24 at 6-351 before Kane Richardson (25) and Head shared a handy partnership of 73.

Glenn Maxwell took a career-best 4-42 off 17.2 overs.

The Australia A spinner bowled Richardson and Head in consecutive overs and also removed Chadd Sayers (0) and Gary Putland (seven) to close the innings as an early tea break was taken.