Test opener Ed Cowan's lean Sheffield Shield season has continued after he was bowled for just 6 in the first innings of Tasmania's clash with South Australia at Bellerive.
In his final hit-out before the crucial series against world number one side South Africa beginning next week, Cowan played on to Redbacks paceman Daniel Worall late on a rain-delayed day one.
The left-hander is yet to pass 50 in six Shield innings this season, with a top score of 42, but did make 74 in the Tigers' one-day loss to Victoria last weekend.
The pressure is mounting from in-form ex-Australian opener Phil Hughes, who has been plundering runs in both tournaments, even before Cowan plays his first Test of the season.
Ricky Ponting's Test preparation also did not last long when he was caught behind for just 5, although he stood his ground at a decision he clearly did not like.
At stumps, the Tigers were 3 for 63 after scuttling struggling South Australia for just 112 with left-arm quick James Faulkner bagging a superb 5 for 23.
Skipper George Bailey (24 not out) and Aiden Blizzard (17 not out) were at the crease at the close, while opener Mark Cosgrove made a duck.
Earlier, Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus bowled 13 overs and took 2 for 25 in his first red-ball game in six months.
The Tasmanian quick snared Redbacks opener Sam Raphael (22) and key man Callum Ferguson (5) as South Australia collapsed from a decent 1 for 51 after the visitors were sent in in tough conditions.
Faulkner bagged his third Shield five-wicket haul, while Hilfenhaus, Luke Butterworth (2 for 14) and an out-of-sorts Jackson Bird (1 for 46) leant support.
A collapse looked on the cards when the left-armer grabbed two scalps in the 26th over, leaving the visitors 4 for 51.
He later grabbed the key wicket of Dan Christian, trapping him lbw for 8, for South Australia to find itself 6 for 68.
"We've had a massive focus with our bowling group to bowl in partnerships so there's going to be days when players take a bag of wickets and there's going to be days when you bowl really well and don't take any," Faulkner said.
"I was just lucky that it was my turn today."
In a telling sign for the struggling Redbacks, it was left to the debuting Raphael to equal top score with skipper Johan Botha.
"He showed all of us how you can play on that wicket, that it is possible, but you just have to hang in there," Botha said.
Conditions did not help the visitors, who were sent in by Tigers skipper George Bailey, with the morning session lost to persistent drizzle and the temperature in Hobart hovering below 10 degrees Celcius.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, adelaide-5000, sa, australia First posted November 01, 2012 19:48:13