Vics start well

Victoria has made a steady progress in its Ford Ranger Cup run chase against South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

At the 25-over mark the Bushrangers are 3-130 and need a further 118 runs to win.

Brad Hodge and Andrew McDonald have had a few mix-ups with their running between wickets but are still putting together a handy fourth-wicket partnership.

Hodge has followed up his 195 in the recent Sheffield Shield match with an effortless 53 from 67 balls while McDonald (26) is the other unbeaten batsmen.

Shaun Tait has been unpredictable as usual and has 2-35 while Jake Haberfield is the other wicket taker.

Tait opened the innings with a wide and six runs from his opening over but struck in his second over, trapping Rob Quiney leg before wicket for eight.

The Bushrangers then consolidated with Hodge and Chris Rogers putting on a controlled 65-run partnership. But the Redbacks strung together some tight overs and frustrated Rogers out for 27 - the left hander skying a catch to Tom Cooper at midwicket.

Captain David Hussey began his innings like a man on a mission scorching two boundaries but was quickly sent packing after Tait hit his off stump.

For the first time in the contest the visitors were under pressure ... and it showed. Both Hodge and McDonald were lucky to survive an aborted quick single with South Australia unsuccessfully taking a ping at both stumps in the one play.

And in the 22nd over Michael Klinger had a chance to run McDonald out with an underarm throw when the all-rounder was on nine but his attempt was off target.

Earlier a career-best innings of 90 from Cameron Borgas guided South Australia to its competitive total. The Redbacks slumped to 5-104 midway through the innings but Borgas and the explosive Daniel Christian (45 off 37 deliveries) combined for a 94-run stand to steady the ship and steer the home side to 9-247.

Borgas started with caution but grew with confidence with the aggressive Christian proving the perfect foil. His sometimes inventive 123-ball knock featured eight boundaries and came to an end when he was caught on the long-on boundary by Rob Quiney in the 49th over.

Darren Pattinson was the pick of the bowlers with an economical 3-34 off 10 overs while Shane Harwood also collected three wickets but was pasted for 77 runs.

Damien Wright bowled well and took 1-19 off eight overs but was forced off the field with a hamstring strain he suffered fielding in the outfield.

The Bushrangers struck early with Redbacks captain Daniel Harris, who made an unbeaten 166 in the Shield match on Monday, dismissed for seven.

He chased a wide Harwood delivery and was dropped by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade but caught by first slip Aaron Finch on the rebound.

It continued South Australia's opening partnership woes with the team averaging just under 11 runs for the first wicket in its three FRC matches this season.

No. 3 Tom Cooper was trapped leg before wicket three over later and the Redbacks were in familiar but unwelcome territory at 2-29.