A defiant century from Callum Ferguson has given South Australia an outside hope of saving their crucial Sheffield Shield match against NSW in Sydney.
The Redbacks ended Thursday's third day at 5-228, just 23 runs clear of a Blues side who desperately need to win to keep their Shield final hopes alive.
Ferguson followed up his first-innings 75 with a classy knock of 103, only to fall in the shadows of stumps on another rain-affected day at the SCG.
It could have been far worse for the Redbacks, who slipped to 2-9 after the Blues had claimed a massive first-innings lead of 205 runs.
Ferguson played a near-faultless 204-ball knock, and combined with Jake Lehmann (46) for a vital 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
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But debutant legspinner Mason Crane (2-54) delivered the Redbacks a potentially mortal blow by dismissing both in the final half-hour.
Lehmann was involved in a nasty moment when he was struck almost flush on the visor by a rising Pat Cummins delivery, but the South Australian batsman was all smiles despite needing to replace his helmet.
Earlier, Ed Cowan was unable to add to his overnight 125, but 42 from Cummins helped NSW advance from 4-333 to 434.
