Victorian spinner Jon Holland has continued to stake his claim for another shot at Test cricket with a match-turning Sheffield Shield performance against SA.
Holland snared 4-25 from seven overs as the Redbacks collapsed late on day three of the MCG clash.
After SA dominated day one, Victoria will head into the final day needing 165 more runs to win their fourth-straight match with 10 wickets in hand.
His haul on Tuesday means Holland has taken 20 wickets in the defending champions' perfect start to the Shield season.
It follows an unsuccessful Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year and some hard work since that tour.
Holland's next chance for a Test squad berth would probably be the February tour of India.
"I had a few things that I identified over there, coming back, that I wanted to work on," he said.
"To be part of a Victorian team with such a strong bowling attack ... it takes a lot of pressure off me.
Holland admitted he would love a Test recall, but said his current priority was more Victorian success.
While Victoria now have the advantage, Holland and SA captain Travis Head noted that the game is still up for grabs.
Victoria resumed their first innings on Tuesday at 6-263 and the tail wagged fiercely.
They reached 367 at lunch, only 38 behind SA.
The Redbacks had to grind through the middle session, reaching 3-70, with Test discard Callum Ferguson (24) continuing his form slump.
But Head and Jake Lehmann looked like they were just about to break the shackles after tea.
They had reached 3-107 when Holland, introduced into the attack three runs earlier, bowled Lehmann for 28.
Four overs later, SA were 7-117 and Holland had taken three wickets.
Head top-scored with 52 as SA were blasted out for 162, setting Victoria 201 for the win.
Marcus Stoinis also bowled well, taking 3-45.
Travis Dean and Marcus Harris survived 11 overs to leave Victoria 0-36 at stumps.
"They've got back in and probably ahead at this stage," Head said.
"The wicket is going to offer a bit of reverse swing and spin for us.
"But we're going to have to work extremely hard in the morning to get the ball to reverse and make the breakthrough early enough to give us an opportunity to try and take 10 wickets."
Share
