James Smith helps Redbacks take first-innings points

South Australia 5 for 309 (Smith 78, Klinger 74) lead Western Australia 284 by 25 runs
Scorecard

James Smith and Michael Klinger helped deliver first-innings points for South Australia but the Redbacks will be hoping to push on for an outright win with two days to play. Queensland and Victoria are well clear at the top of the Sheffield Shield table, which should encourage both the Redbacks and Western Australia to aim for a result.

The first part of the points allocation was settled when Aaron O'Brien and Daniel Christian, the sixth-wicket pair, guided South Australia past the Warriors' 284 late on the second day. At the close, the Redbacks had 5 for 309 and their advantage had grown to 25 runs with O'Brien unbeaten on 46 and Christian on 27.

South Australia began the day at 1 for 19 but any thoughts from the Warriors of running through the visitors vanished thanks to a 151-run stand from Smith and Klinger. Brad Knowles eventually removed both men; Klinger played on for 74 from 189 balls and Smith was caught at mid-on for an equally patient 78.

But Western Australia couldn't get the run of wickets that they needed and handy contributions from Cameron Borgas (39) and Tom Cooper (26) helped them edge closer to the lead. The home team's two key fast men, Steve Magoffin and Ashley Noffke, went wicketless while Knowles and Michael Hogan grabbed two each.