Milenko's milestone helps save Tasmania in Hobart

Allrounder Simon Milenko has smacked a rearguard maiden Marsh Sheffield Shield century to help Tasmania out of trouble on day one against South Australia in Hobart.

The 31-year-old's 100 off 134 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes, pushed the Tigers' first innings to 254 on Saturday.

Milenko came to the crease with his team wobbling at 5-121 but farmed the strike with the tail and remarkably scored 100 of Tasmania's last 133 runs.

He shared a 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Gabe Bell (six) before being bowled by the part-time spin of Will Bosisto.

"It was mostly relief, to be perfectly honest," Milenko said of the milestone, which came after 10 fifties across 26 first-class matches.

Milenko hit a French-cut boundary to reach 99 before picking up a single.

"It's good be able to go all the way and get us to up to a total that's a little more competitive on a reasonably good wicket," he said.

"It all happened fairly quickly. When you're picking up those boundaries, the scoreboard ticks over."

Redbacks quick Joe Mennie (3-76) did the damage at the top of the order and was ably supported by Wes Agar (3-68) after they won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat.

The winless Redbacks negotiated half an hour to get to 0-26 at stumps.

Milenko was one of two changes to the fourth-placed Tigers' side which was last week thrashed inside two days by Queensland.

While he was able to free the arms, veteran and soon-to-be national selector George Bailey managed just seven in his last first-class match before retirement in February.

Opener Alex Doolan was the second-highest scorer with 37.

The Tigers blunted the new ball to reach 1-60 at lunch but lost four wickets in the middle session.

Second-last South Australia handed a first-class debut to off-spinning allrounder Daniel Drew and are searching for their first win of the season.

Tasmania: Jordan Silk (c), Alex Doolan, Mac Wright, George Bailey, Ben McDermott, Jake Doran (wk), Simon Milenko, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell, Riley Meredith

South Australia: Jake Weatherald, Henry Hunt, Callum Ferguson, Will Bosisto, Alex Carey (c & wk), Harry Nielsen, Daniel Drew, Nick Winter, Chadd Sayers, Joe Mennie, Wes Agar