Fiesty Tigers dim Redbacks final's hopes

HOBART, March 1 AAP - South Australia's hopes of reaching the Pura Cup final were all but dashed today by a fiesty Tasmania on day three of their rain-marred clash at Bellerive Oval.

As Queensland won the right to host the final by downing Victoria in Brisbane, the Redbacks were decimated by an attack led by fast bowler Gerard Denton.

At eight for 185 at stumps in their second innings after following on, the visitors need an outright win to stay in contention for the final.

All that came between South Australia and an innings loss today was the eighth wicket stand between Mark Higgs and Mark Cleary, who formed a 76-run partnership to stave off defeat.

Higgs was 66 not out at stumps, with Cleary falling LBW on the final ball of the day for 29.

Despite losing key pacemen Damien Wright and Adam Griffith to injury, the Tigers were still too strong.

Scoring 285 on day one, Tasmania enforced the follow on today after limiting the Redbacks' first innings to 122.

SA had come to the crease in the first session on two for 17.

Tasmania's makeshift attack - snaring seven wickets for 100 runs in 35 overs before lunch - saw Denton achieve career-best first-class figures of 5-40 off 15 overs.

Returning to the side after an extended lay-off through injury, his previous best first-class figure was 4-39 for Tasmania against the Zimbabwe president's XI in 1995/96 at Bulawayo in a pre-season tour.

The Redbacks' second innings was delayed by 51 minutes because of intermittent rain.

When the skies cleared, they racked up 50 runs before losing David Fitzgerald (29) to a catch at gully by Michael Dighton.

The ensuing downhill slide - which saw skipper Greg Blewett caught at square leg by Scott Mason for nine off 53 balls and Brad Young run out for a duck - resulted in the loss of six wickets for 48 runs in 20 overs.

Tigers captain Jamie Cox said he had been "a bit twitchy" about today's follow-on but the result was a great credit to Tasmania's bowlers.

Play is due to resume at 10.30am (AEDT) tomorrow.