South Australia 286 for 9 (Hunt 62, Scott 53, Siddle 3-44) vs. Victory
Wickets fell at regular intervals during the second and third sessions as South Australia finished the day 286 for 9 after visiting captain Will Sutherland was given first use of the Adelaide Oval batting slot.
Siddle struck twice in one over to remove Daniel Drew and Jake Lehmann for a second run in as many matches.
The indefatigable Siddle returned late in the day to clean up Scott and send the home team’s last recognized batsman on his way for 53, finishing the day with 3 for 44 in 18 overs.
Siddle, player of the match with 5 for 49 against a strong New South Wales side last weekend, returned to the Shield squad amid a host of absences for Victoria.
Bowlers Scott Boland, Todd Murphy and Fergus O’Neill, as well as opener Marcus Harris, missed the third round match due to Australia A commitments.
Siddle, a veteran of 67 Tests, complemented a young Victoria bowling line-up with Cam McClure, Mitch Perry and spinner Doug Warren, who replaced Murphy.
The day started strangely with the fifth ball of the match eluding wicketkeeper Sam Harper and hitting the fielder’s helmet leading to a five-run penalty.
Despite the early gift, South Australia were unable to score fluently and only managed a two-run scoring rate in the closing moments of the morning session to be 62 for 1 at lunch.
Conor McInerney was the only batsman to fall, bowling to Sutherland, before Siddle made his double breakthrough after the interval.
Hunt made a typically attentive 62 only to edge out Warren at first slip off the left-arm spinner’s first ball of the spell.
Siddle was also in action on the field, catching Carey in form at the boundary while bowling Perry.
Carey’s knock ended on 44 when a pull shot failed to clear the tight Adelaide Oval boundary to leave the home team at a wobbly 159 for 5.
Scott then played an important innings to revive South Australia, aided by Ben Manenti and debutant Henry Thornton.
