Henry Hunt's century saves South Australia as Chadd Sayers bows out

Henry Hunt's exceptional rearguard innings to conclude a strong season at the top of the order could not prevent South Australia's ignominious finish at the bottom of the Sheffield Shield table for the fourth consecutive season after Travis Head and his Victorian counterpart Peter Handscomb called off proceedings early at Junction Oval in Melbourne.

There were still 43 overs scheduled to be bowled on the final afternoon with the Redbacks nine wickets down and leading Victoria by 297 runs. But the retiring Chadd Sayers did not get a final innings in which to bowl as the two teams preferred a swift finish to a season that was short of expectations for each.

When they slipped to 4 for 52, leading by just 20 runs overall, on the third afternoon, SA looked set to slide to yet another defeat in a season that, with one domestic limited-overs match remaining, has so far been completely devoid of victories.

However Hunt stood firm against the spin of Jon Holland - nine victims for the match - and the seam and bounce of Scott Boland for long periods, adding a priceless 122 with Jake Lehmann to frustrate Victoria's efforts.

In an otherwise grim season for SA, Hunt's emergence as a top order batsman of substance with 628 runs at 44.85 and two centuries has been some consolation after he moved from country New South Wales to Adelaide in search of greater opportunities.