South Australia captain Johan Botha said Tasmania's afternoon session of batting in their Bupa Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday was what cost the Redbacks a way back into the match on the opening day.
Following a stifling bowling attack from speedsters Gary Putland and Chadd Sayers, and all-rounder Dan Christian, Tasmania remained patient and defensive at the crease early.
The Tigers slowly but surely advanced to lunch at 1-72 after opener Ed Cowan was dismissed shortly prior to the break by Botha.
But once play resumed after midday, Mark Cosgrove and No.3 batsman Alex Doolan went on a ferocious attack, belting 150 runs from just 192 balls and combining for a powerful 166-run partnership.
Cosgrove finally departed shortly after tea for 104 after being run out, but Doolan (141 not out) continued on the offensive, along with former Australia Test skipper Ricky Ponting (60 not out).
The pair forged an unbeaten 122-run stand littered with boundaries, including seven sixes between them - five of those from Ponting - as they pulled up stumps on day one at 2-354.
To inflict further punishment on the Redbacks, all three top-order batsmen were given reprieves following a series of dropped catches.
Botha was left to rue the missed opportunities in the field, admitting his side were unable to control Tasmania's scintillating display of batting after lunch.
"(The game) probably got away from us in the second session, when they scored about 150," Botha said.
"If we could have controlled the damage a little bit in that session, it could have easily been 3 or 4-300 at the end of the day.
"We gave them a couple of opportunities and missed a couple of chances.
"We weren't at our best for half of that session and almost then it was too late (to recover).
"They played well on a really good wicket and now we are a bit under pressure for the rest of the game."
One bowler on the wrong end of his team-mates' fielding misfortunes was Australia Test spinner Nathan Lyon, who finished with 0-93 from 29 overs.
Lyon had both Cosgrove and Doolan on the ropes but both escaped after Botha and later Sayers couldn't hold on to catches.
The off-spinner was then smashed all over the ground as he gave up a number of sixes to Doolan and Ponting, who in one over swept the Redbacks joint vice-captain beyond the fence twice in a row.
Botha defended the 24-year-old, suggesting he was on the receiving of some bad luck.
"He bowled really well and was probably the unluckiest bowler in our line-up today ... probably two or three chances missed off his bowling," Botha said.
"His figures weren't a fair reflection. 0-90 odd is definitely not fair on the way he bowled.
"He could have easily have had 3-60 or 3-70, but that's just sometimes how the game goes.
"Sometimes you bowl well and you don't pick up wickets and other days you don't go as well and you do get wickets - that's how it is and he understands that."
The Redbacks resume play on Wednesday with the new ball - a situation Botha hopes to take advantage of.
"We can easily pick up three or four in the first session and that is not impossible at all," Botha said.
First Posted 10 October, 2012 7:49AM AEST
