A century to opening batsman Ed Cowan has helped Tasmania recover from a disastrous start to grab the ascendency on the opening day of its Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at Bellerive Oval on Tuesday.
Cowan (102 not out) notched his first century of the season in the last over of the middle session to guide the Tigers to 3-184 at tea after they were in big trouble at 3-28 early on.
He brought up his ton in style with a cracking drive through mid-wicket that found the boundary, as he and Dan Marsh (59 not out) also brought up their 150-run partnership.
Cowan's knock has come off 191 balls and has featured 16 boundaries, while Marsh, who also brought up his half-century with a boundary, has found the rope eight times.
Although, Marsh is lucky to still be at the crease after Redbacks wicketkeeper Graham Manou missed a stumping chance off the bowling of Aaron O'Brien shortly before the tea break.
Earlier, the Redbacks' decision to bowl paid immediate dividends with beanpole fast bowler Peter George striking three times to leave the Tigers struggling three wickets down inside the opening hour of play.
George trapped opening batsman Jon Wells (four) lbw in the fifth over, but it was the 12th over when he wreaked the most damage.
Alex Doolan (11) was clean bowled off the first delivery of the over and then captain George Bailey (zero) edged one through to Graham Manou just four balls later to leave Tasmania struggling.
George's eight-over spell returned the impressive figures of 3-17 and four maidens and he almost grabbed another wicket just before lunch, but Cowan was put down on the off side.
The 23-year-old is the only Redbacks wicket-taker, although Dan Christian has toiled hard to have figures of 0-24 off 10 overs.
Tasmania 1st innings
Wells lbw George 4
Cowan not out 102
Doolan b George 11
Bailey c Manou b George 0
Marsh not out 59
Extras 8 (2b, 2lb, 4nb)
Total: 184 (3 wickets; 62 overs)
FOW: 1-10, 2-28, 3-28
Bowling
George 14 - 4 - 30 - 3
Haberfield 12 - 2 - 47 - 0
Duval 13 - 2 - 43 - 0 (2nb)
O'Brien 13 - 4 - 36 - 0
Christian 10 - 2 - 24 - 0 (2nb)