A historic opening stand powered the hosts into a commanding position and left the visitors scratching their heads
Record-breaking Redbacks dominate Tasmania
South Australia's Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt have posted big centuries and rewritten the record books to leave the Redbacks in control after the opening day of their Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Adelaide Oval.
The winless South Australia piled on the runs to end Monday's play at an imposing 1-359 after winning the toss.
Weatherald finished unbeaten on a career-best 195, while Hunt scored his maiden first-class ton before being dismissed in the final hour for 132.
The openers put on a mammoth 293 runs, eclipsing the long-standing first-wicket wicket record for South Australia of 281, set 52 years ago by Les Favell and John Causby.
A massive day for South Australia's openers! Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt both brought up centuries in their record-breaking stand. @MarshGlobal | #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/2fVyWMbXyd— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 11, 2019
The Redbacks lined up without senior players, Travis Head and Alex Carey, both on Australia A duty in the three-day match against Pakistan in Perth.
Minus Riley Meredith, also playing for Australia A, Tasmania had few answers, with medium-pacer Lawrence Neil-Smith (1-74) the only bowler to break through.
The medium-pacer had Hunt caught at the wicket after skying a pull shot, but only after the rookie had posted his maiden ton off 211 balls in just his fourth match.
Weatherald ended the day just shy of his maiden first-class double century, having reached the boundary 29 times in a 275-ball knock.
Callum Ferguson is the other not out batsman on 20.