ADELAIDE, Oct 15 AAP - South Australian all-rounder Michael Miller charged through the Victorian middle order with four quick wickets to lead a late fightback on the first day of the season-opening Pura Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval today.

SA won the toss and batted first but was dismissed for 149 in two sessions, which looked to be a substandard total on a pitch that appeared to pose little danger.

But after the Bushrangers started solidly in reply with an opening stand of 37 between Matthew Elliott (25) and Jason Arnberger (18), Miller took 4-22 in an 11-over spell as Victoria crashed to 7-94 at stumps.

The Bushrangers still trail the Redbacks by 55 on the first innings with three wickets in hand.

Miller trapped dangerman Brad Hodge lbw for two, then bowled Nick Jewell for eight and Ian Harvey for three, before snaring Cameron White lbw for four.

Darren Berry then threw his wicket away on the last ball of the day when he was on one, lofting off-spinner John Davison to deep backward square leg to provide Ryan Harris with an easy catch and leave the Redbacks with the upper hand heading into day two.

Graeme Rummans was not out on 27 at stumps, although he was dropped by David Fitzgerald in the gully off Miller's bowling late in the day.

Miller said the pitch did not hold any great dangers, but he was assisted by plenty of swing.

"The ball was moving a lot. I had it on a string and once I got it in the right spot it was pretty difficult to bat against," he said.

"They were swinging in, swinging in a fair way, we were just working to a plan - a couple swinging away and then a big in-swinger - and it came off."

He said the match was evenly poised, making tomorrow's opening session crucial.

"We've got to hopefully roll them very early in the morning and get in by lunchtime and get a big score," Miller said.

Earlier, Redbacks captain Greg Blewett top-scored for SA with 36, while former NSW all-rounder Mark Higgs scored 33.

Apart from that pair, who put on their team's best partnership of 39 for the fourth wicket, no SA batsman made more than 20.

Blewett appeared unlucky to be given out lbw to leg-spinner Cameron White shortly before lunch.

His wicket sparked a major late-order collapse, with the last six SA wickets falling for 24 runs, three of them to Will Carr.

Carr finished the innings with the figures of 4-42, while White and Michael Lewis each took two wickets.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.