Off-spinning allrounder Ben Manenti starred with bat and ball to leave South Australia well placed heading into the final day of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in Adelaide.
Victoria’s openers got through six overs unscarred to be 0-9 at stumps on Sunday, requiring a further 337 runs for victory.
South Australia were able to declare late in the day at 8-270 and set Victoria a challenging 346-run victory target thanks to some typically lusty hitting from Manenti.
Three huge sixes highlighted Manenti’s 62 not out from 71 balls.
Coming to the crease with the home side having lost 3-4 and looking wobbly at 6-176, Manenti top-scored for his side having also completed career-best bowling figures of 5-73 earlier in the day.
Victoria resumed on day three at 7-195, with Manenti having picked up four top-order wickets.
But it was Harry Conway (4-39) who claimed the most important dismissal during the morning session in dismissing Sam Harper.
The wicketkeeper revived Victoria's innings on day two and, after resuming on 68, had reached 89 when trapped lbw by the paceman.
Conway earlier knocked over Peter Siddle (10) and Manenti ended the innings by bowling Doug Warren (7) to leave the Vics with a 75-run first innings deficit.
South Australia’s turn at the crease began with Henry Hunt caught behind without scoring for a second successive second innings duck for the otherwise heavy-scoring opener.
Conversely Jake Lehmann posted a well-compiled 60 having been dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
There were runs also for in-form Alex Carey (42), with the Test gloveman now boasting a Shield average of 88 after three matches of the season.
Veteran paceman Siddle was the best of the Victorian bowlers for the second time in the match with 4-63, while rookie spinner Warren returned 3-74.
