Arnberger ton gives Victoria slim lead

Victoria 149 and 4 for 318 (Arnberger 149, Mash 94) lead South Australia 389 (Cosgrove 184, Deitz 78, Wise 4-78) by 78 runs
Scorecard

Jason Arnberger returned to form with a vital 149 against South Australia © Getty Images

Jason Arnberger's 149 helped Victoria significantly erase much of their deficit against South Australia as they ended day three of the Pura Cup match at 4 for 318. Arnberger, who had managed just 43 runs in seven innings this season, returned to form by posting his 12th Pura Cup century and also brought up 5000 first-class runs as the Bushrangers earned a 78-run lead.

Beginning the day 233 runs behind, Victoria were given a solid start by Arnberger and Michael Klinger (38) before Lloyd Mash (94) joined Arnberger in an 184-run stand for the second wicket. Mash, 23 and playing only his third first-class game, got off the mark with a six but then did not score for 41 deliveries, and his innings included times of caution and sessions of pure aggression.

However, just when it seemed Victoria would secure a significant lead both batsmen fell to the impressive Jason Gillespie, who took 2 for 66. David Hussey was the other batsman out today, caught by Callum Ferguson at square leg off Matthew Weeks for a duck.

Arnberger, 33, was confident of Victoria pressing home the advantage on the final day. "We've only just got our noses in front, so we've got to bat until after lunch and onwards and then hopefully the wicket will deteriorate a bit more and keep low ... then we're a chance," he told AAP.

South Australia received some good news with their captain Darren Lehmann expected to play in next week's ING Cup match against the same opposition. Scans on his injured thumb showed only severe bruising instead of ligament damage after he jarred his thumb in the field on day one. Lehmann fielded today and even bowled three overs of left-arm spin.