Tasmanian lower order batsmen Sean Clingeleffer and Damien Wright batted South Australia out of the game and put their side within striking distance of an outright win at stumps on day three of their Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval today.

SA was 2-66 in its second innings at the close of play, with opener Ben Johnson on 34 and Ben Higgins on seven, still needing another 208 runs to make Tasmania bat again.

It was the third straight day of dominance by the Tigers, after they started the day at 3-291 in their first innings, already leading by 91 runs after dismissing SA for 200 in its first innings on day one.

Captain Jamie Cox started the day on 144, with Daniel Marsh with him at the crease on 63, but Marsh was trapped LBW by leg spinner Peter McIntyre without adding to his score today, giving the Redbacks some hope of crashing through the Tasmanian lower order.

McIntyre also dismissed Cox in the opening session, caught sweeping at deep backward square leg for 174 after a marathon innings lasting more than eight hours.

McIntyre bowled 24 consecutive overs from the southern end from the start of the play today for a spell of 2-61 which finished midway through the second session, after he bowled just seven of SA's 97 overs yesterday.

Left arm paceman Mark Harrity bowled Scott Kremerskothen (26) four balls after the Cox dismissal and the Tigers were 6-349, SA having taken 3-58 in the first 24 overs of the day in its best period of the match.

But a patient partnership of 123 between wicketkeeper Clingeleffer (66 not out) and all-rounder Wright (55) destroyed any chance SA had of working its way back into a competitive situation and broke the Redbacks' spirit.

The pair batted for almost 40 overs in a stand that lasted more than two hours and took the Tigers to 6-472 nearing tea.

It was the third century-plus partnership of the Tasmanian innings and five Tasmanians made half-centuries or better.

All-rounder Mike Smith eventually trapped Wright LBW to break the partnership then had Shannon Tubb (one) caught at square leg in his next over, at which stage Cox declared the innings at 8-474, a first innings lead of 274.

Tasmania then made quick inroads into the SA top order, David Fitzgerald caught behind for a duck off David Saker's bowling in the second over.

Saker bowled a superb spell of 1-6 in his six overs late today, including five maidens.

Wright then captured the crucial wicket of SA captain Greg Blewett (21), when he edged a drive to Marsh at first slip.

If Tasmania can snare the eight wickets needed to take outright victory tomorrow it will join Western Australia in equal second position on the Pura Cup table with one round of matches left before the final.

© 2002 AAP