Maiden tons for McFadyen, Manenti as SA pile pain on Vics

Maiden first-class centuries to debutant Noah McFadyen and captain Ben Manenti have South Australia on the verge of a thumping win in their Sheffield Shield opener against Victoria at Junction Oval.

McFadyen (134) and Manenti (128) put on a 158-run partnership to help SA secure a huge first innings lead of 264 against the Vics, who reached stumps on day three at 7-175, still trailing the visitors by 89 runs. 

23-year-old McFadyen struck 21 boundaries including five sixes to back up his two wickets with the ball in what has turned out to be a dream debut.

"I looked at my phone and I reckon I had 215 notifications," McFadyen said minutes after play. "I haven't looked at any of them yet, but that'll take a while tonight.

"I probably never really thought I was that close until I was in the squad last year. It was the last round game here against Victoria, and then obviously that one didn't go my way.

"With Liam Scott being away for this game I sort of thought, 'Oh, it might be a chance'... it's a great moment for me."

Not to be outdone, stand-in skipper Manenti's first Shield century sparked raucous applause from his South Australian teammates.

The Italy international, who had previously made 12 first-class half-centuries without reaching three figures, made lightwork of Victoria's bowlers in a dominant day for the back-to-back champions.

SA recovered from 5-165 on day two to finally be dismissed for 508 on day three, before Nathan McAndrew (2-35), Henry Thornton (2-27) Manenti (2-29) and Brendan Doggett (1-40) combined to take seven Victorian wickets.

Left-arm paceman Harry Hoekstra (6-103) continued to shine in his first Shield fixture on an otherwise dirty day for the hosts.

South Australia started day three at 6-352 with their leader just eight runs away from a first Shield ton.

The allrounder hit three boundaries off Sam Elliott's (1-108) first over to surpass the milestone in style.

"I didn't want to have to think about it for too long, so it was nice to get a couple away," Manenti said.

"I feel like it's been a long time coming and I've probably thrown away a few, so to finally tick it off, yeah it was special." 

McFadyen and Manenti looked untroubled as they piled the pain on Victoria's attack before a change of pace from Hoekstra fooled Manenti, who chipped a catch to Fergus O'Neill (0-74) at short cover.

Shortly after Hoekstra dismissed Nathan McAndrew (4) and Henry Thornton (5) was bowled by Moody, leaving McFadyen still needing 14 runs to secure a remarkable hundred.

Beginning the 124th over on 88, the Adelaide Cricket Club product hit Hoekstra for two huge sixes in three balls to bring up a sublime century.

To make matter worse for Victoria, No.11 Brendan Doggett (19 not out) and McFadyen put on 68, implementing more misery on a tired team.

McFadyen eventually holed out to Matt Short (0-36) at cow corner to end the innings as the umpires called lunch.

Victoria openers Campbell Kellaway (54) and Marcus Harris (27) dug 42 runs into the deficit before Harris was trapped by McAndrew.

SA's spearhead then removed Peter Handscomb for a nine-ball duck, who spooned a full and wide delivery to Jake Lehmann at point.

Young gun Ollie Peake (3) struggled to find any momentum in his 19-ball innings, as he too was drawn into a false drive off Thornton that landed in Gilkes' hands at cover.

Returning from tea at 3-74, Doggett continued Victoria's demise when he trapped Short (6) not long after the interval.

Liam Blackford (20) joined Kellaway at the crease and the two navigated the Vics past drinks in the final session. Kellaway brought up his fifty, but Blackford fell the very next ball to a special catch a short-leg from Mackenzie Harvey.

Kellaway departed soon after when he misjudged the length of a Thornton delivery that wasn't there to pull, giving the right-arm quick his second wicket.

Manenti removed Elliott for two late in the day, meaning O'Neill (42 not out) and Hoekstra (7 not out) will resume batting tomorrow with South Australia just three wickets away from victory.