South Australian paceman Joe Mennie admits he made a shaky return to Sheffield Shield cricket before finding his form to take a five-wicket haul against Tasmania in a crucial match for the Redbacks.
At Bellerive Oval on Friday, play ended with the visitors at 0-69 in their second innings, leaving the Tigers with a 38-run lead after earlier posting 332 in their first dig.
Mennie hadn't played first-class cricket since December after suffering a serious head injury while training in January with the BBL's Sydney Sixers.
But the 28-year-old showed no signs of the minor fracture and brain bleed after copping a ball in the head, as he took 5-67 from 20.1 overs in Hobart.
Bowling just four overs on day one, Mennie hadn't found success.
"I was probably a bit shaky but it was good to come in today and obviously hit my areas and take some wickets and help the team bowl Tassie out," he said after play.
"It's always nice to get some wickets after a big layoff."
His victims included key Tigers batsmen, skipper George Bailey, Ben McDermott, Beau Webster and Tim Paine, and he shut down the Tasmanian innings by removing No.9 Hamish Kingston.
First thought to have suffered concussion, Mennie's condition was revealed to be far more serious after hospital scans, but the chipper bowler said he's feeling good.
"I played one grade game last week and that was the first game back and obviously back into Shield cricket is a bit tougher - you're out there a lot longer and a lot more overs, but the body is feeling good and I'm happy with the way the ball came out."
Daniel Worrall took 3-96 for the Redbacks and Chadd Sayers finished with 2-86.
The home side's batting showed resistance, with McDermott belting his first Shield century before being caught at second slip on 104.
Webster added a useful 50 and Bailey managed 49.
It was a strong reply by Tasmania to South Australia's lacklustre first-innings total of 225.
After the changeover, Redbacks openers John Dalton and Jake Weatherald were quick to settle, unbeaten at stumps on 46 and 22 respectively.
South Australia require a convincing win in Hobart to have any chance of qualifying for next week's final against Victoria.
While Tasmania are in last place on the Shield ladder, South Australia need the win plus losses for NSW and Queensland to sneak into the decider.
