Some lofty lower-order hitting from Jon Holland has helped Victoria set South Australia a tough run chase for outright points in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
Holland added a first-class best of 55 from just 39 deliveries in a valuable 77-run 10th wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Ryan Carters (35 not out) as Victoria reached 181 in their second innings meaning South Australia will now require 302 to claim an unlikely six points on a pitch that has already yielded 30 wickets in less than two day's play.
When Joe Mennie dismissed Jayde Herrick with the fourth ball after tea on Tuesday it looked like South Australia would be chasing a score around 230, but an aggressive Holland and a more subdued Carters had other ideas.
Holland drove hard on anything full and was just as vicious when the bowlers pitched it in short as he nailed eight boundaries and continued to frustrate the South Australian bowlers.
The Victorian No.11 stayed aggressive throughout his innings, apart from when he was on 49 and decided to run a risky single that could have seen him easily run out.
Only when Holland was bowled shortly after 5pm local time was there any respite for the South Australian bowlers, who had done so well to take the first nine Victorian wickets for a mere 104 runs.
Pace trio Chadd Sayers (5-57), Joe Mennie (3-68) and Carl Tietjens (2-26) ripped through the Victorian top-order and it wasn't until Holland arrived at the crease that they took some stick.
Sayers was the most impressive of the South Australian quicks, with his nagging line and length very similar to what Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald used so well in taking 5-21 during the Redbacks' first innings.
He admittedly took out of Victorian skipper Cameron White (3) and Peter Handscomb (5) to dubious lbw decisions, but trapped McDonald (10) plumb in front as the Victorian middle order struggled on a pitch seemingly worsening.
Earlier, Victoria took 6-19 in a little over an hour in the first session of the day to dismiss South Australia for 100, in reply to the hosts own modest first-innings total of 220.
The Bushrangers looked to be on their way to a sizeable second innings score when openers Chris Rogers (36) and Rob Quiney (19) made a bright start with an unbeaten 56-run opening partnership, only for disaster to strike shortly after.
The duo fell in the space of four balls before Aaron Finch was out for a duck - his second of the match - when Redbacks' skipper Michael Klinger held a regulation chance at first slip off the bowling of Tietjens.
Wickets continued to fall in quick succession shortly after and it wasn't until Holland joined with Carters late in the innings that the hosts added another meaningful partnership.
On the opening day, the Redbacks rolled the Bushrangers for 220, with Mennie snaring 5-42 in an impressive display, while McDonald top scored for the hosts with a well compiled 72.