Head, Sayers lead race for Shield final

A remarkable first day's play in Adelaide has ended with South Australia in complete control of their must-win Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania thanks to stunning contributions from Chadd Sayers with the ball and Travis Head with the bat.

The Redbacks boast a 148-run lead after dismissing the Tigers for just 91 and then piling on the runs with haste to be 7-239 at stumps at Gliderol Stadium in Glenelg on Tuesday.

With the second-placed Queensland Bulls collapsing in their first innings in their Shield match against Western Australia at the Gabba, the door is now ajar open for South Australia to leapfrog other states into a coveted Shield final berth.

Quick Single: WA blunt Bulls horns at Gabba

Head brought up his second consecutive Shield century late in the day and reached 106 not out at the close.

The fourth-placed Redbacks need a big win and hope results go their way to qualifying for the final and Sayers gave them every opportunity of achieving that by collecting career-best figures of 7-46 from 15 overs.

Sayers, who was part of Australia's Test squad on their recent tour of New Zealand, returned figures of 4-26 from his opening eight overs to leave Tasmania floundering at 5-30 at one stage.

Tasmania limped to 7-63 at lunch, and only some late hitting from Tasmania No.11 Jackson Bird, who swung lustily for 18 off 20 balls, pushed the score along with 23 added for the final wicket.

In reply SA started poorly and were reduced to 2-23 before Head steadied the ship firstly with the in-form Jake Lehmann (29), and then in concert with Alex Ross (52).

Head and Ross put on 95 for the fifth wicket at better than a run a ball, taking the game away from the bottom-placed visitors.

Australian Test paceman Jackson Bird claimed 4-51 for the Tigers.

South Australia can reach the Sheffield Shield final with victory, provided both NSW and Queensland lose their respective matches.