Bushrangers in full command

A century opening stand has Victoria in the box seat for first-innings points in its Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Chasing the Redbacks' 292, the Bushrangers are 1-121 at lunch on day two with Chris Rogers (68 off 88 deliveries) and Brad Hodge (11) the not out batsmen.

The visitors need a further 172 runs to overtake the home side's tally.

Dan Christian has been the best of the bowlers with 1-44 and has caused some early headaches for Hodge.

But the session belonged to Victoria with Rogers and Nick Jewell (39 runs) smashing 20 of the Vics' 22 boundaries for the morning.

They guided their side to 102 before Christian dismissed Jewell leg before wicket.

Rogers started the day in an aggressive mood, striking 16 runs off the opening three overs (15 of which came off Peter George's bowling).

Jewell was slower to start and was given a life when he was on three - Mark Cosgrove grassed a catch at first slip.

But the close call sparked a positive reaction from the right hander who began to play some handsome drives and cut shots.

South Australia would've been disappointed with its time in the field with the bowlers delivering too many full or wide deliveries which were pounced upon by the Bushrangers batsmen.

It took the home side 14 overs to make a bowling change and by that time the introduction of Christian and Mark Cosgrove's medium pacers made for easy pickings for the established Jewell and Rogers.

But to Christian's credit he persisted and got the breakthrough.

The Bushrangers also had the better of the Redbacks on the opening day after bowling the home side out.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman made 62 on debut and shared in a critical 99-run partnership with Christian while Cosgrove (53) and Aaron O'Brien (47) were the other major contributors.

It was a fighting effort by the Redbacks who at one stage were 4-67.

Dirk Nannes took two early wickets and finished with 3-65 while Clint McKay also claimed three scalps.

South Australia first innings 292

Victoria first innings
Rogers not out 68
Jewell lbw Christian 39
Hodge not out 11
Extras: 2 (nb 1, lb 1)
Total: 121 (1 wicket; 29 overs)

FoW: 1-102

Bowling:
George 8 - 3 - 23 - 0
Haberfield 9 -1 - 29 - 0
Christian 7 - 1 - 44 - 1 (1nb)
Cosgrove 1 - 0 - 12 - 0
O'Brien 4 -1 - 12 - 0