Sheffield Shield stragglers South Australia made a solid start after choosing to bowl first at the MCG, with Victoria reaching 2-61 at lunch on Friday.
The Bushrangers were in disarray at 2-14 in the eighth over before David Hussey (14 not out) and opener Chris Rogers (34 not out) combined for an unbroken 47-run partnership.
South Australia captain Johan Botha had won the toss and chose to bowl first on an MCG pitch which had a light cover of grass.
Chadd Sayers struck in the second over to remove Ryan Carters caught behind for a duck.
Aaron Finch followed for nine at 2-18, caught at first slip by Michael Klinger off Sayers’ bowling.
Hussey was also caught at slip by Klinger off Sayers’ bowling with his score on two, however the bowler over-stepped and was called for a no-ball.
Sayers has claimed 2-10 off eight overs while fellow seamer Gary Putland also kept things tight with only 10 runs coming from his seven overs.
The Redbacks recalled Kane Richardson and Putland for Jake Haberfield and allrounder Dan Christian, who was suspended for one match for three separate incidents of poor behaviour post-dismissal.
Victoria, who are second on the table with 20 points, named Scott Boland in place of young allrounder Alex Keath.