TIGERS TAKE EARLY ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE

SOUTH Australian coach Jason Gillespie’s first job when he emerges from quarantine today is to give his ailing Redback batsmen a hug after another batting collapse.

Playing a Tasmanian outfit beaten by an innings and 59 runs by Queensland last week, SA lurched to 5- 81 and 6- 107 before Harry Nielsen ( 64) and Chadd Sayers ( 30) helped lift

the total to 195. Their bowlers took the edge off the pain – and might even have hauled them back into the game -- when Sayers trapped Jordan Silk lbw for a duck and Kane Richardson dismissed Alex Doolan for six to have the Tigers 2- 14 at stumps.

“It feels like we can take a bit of momentum into tomorrow,” Nielsen said after play.

“It’s obviously not ideal to be bowled out for under 200, but to

come back and take two wickets, we feel like we’re right in the game.”

Ill- discipline, technical deficiencies and probing Tasmanian seam bowling combined to humble SA’s batting.

Skipper Travis Head’s concentration lapsed when he was slow to respond to a Henry Hunt call for a sharp single and was run out by Alex Doolan’s direct hit.

Callum Ferguson cruised to 29 before being caught on the crease

plumb in front to the bustling Nathan Ellis . The Tasmanian attack threatened all day. Siddle ( 2- 30) pounded the ball onto a good length and Ellis ( 2- 38) decked the ball both ways at brisk pace.

After winning the toss and batting, the Redbacks were in early trouble when Jake Weatherald ( 4) was caught by Webster at second slip and Brad Davis ( 5) was brilliantly pouched by Paine diving full- length.