Chadd Sayers is again on target to finish as the Sheffield Shield season's leading wicket-taker, but South Australia have been let down by their batsmen on day one of the crucial clash with Tasmania.
At Bellerive Oval on Thursday, the visitors were dismissed for 225 in their first innings.
Sayers admits the effort had lacked some shine when his side need a big win to keep alive their hopes of a finals spot next week.
"We obviously would've liked to get more runs on the board," the 29-year-old said after play.
"A few of our batters probably threw their wicket away (with) a couple of bad shots."
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Opener Jake Weatherald equal top-scored for the Redbacks with 46, along with No.7 Alex Carey who was unbeaten on the same total.
On Shield debut, John Dalton's 146-minute innings earned him 40 runs, while Callum Ferguson was out for a duck and Travis Head added just four.
Paceman Sam Rainbird spearheaded Tasmania's attack, taking 4-50 from his 16 overs, while debutant Gabe Bell finished with 3-63.
The Tigers' opening batsmen - Caleb Jewell and Alex Doolan - both fell victim to Sayers, bowled and trapped lbw respectively.
The Redbacks' seamer finished the day with 2-33 as the hosts hit the sheds at 3-76, still 149 runs in arrears.
Sayers' latest pair takes his season wicket tally to 52 - 10 clear of his nearest rival, Victorian spinner Jon Holland.
But the 29-year-old doesn't focus on the statistics, at least not yet.
"That's something you look back on when you retire," said Sayers, who also topped the Shield wicket tally in 2012-13.
"I'm just looking to win games for South Australia and take wickets and doing that helps the team."
South Australia must win against last-placed Tasmania and hope both NSW and Queensland lose to sneak into next week's competition decider against Victoria.
