Redbacks set up tense final day chase

South Australia have kept their slim JLT Sheffield Shield hopes alive after an unexpected fightback against Tasmania on day three of their match at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

The Redbacks ended Wednesday at 1-49 in pursuit of 331 for the win they need to stay in the hunt for the Shield final.

While a victory target of beyond 300 will be difficult to chase down, the Redbacks managed a score of 347 on the last day of their match against Queensland last week.

And having lost only opener Conor McInerney during a testing 23-over session to conclude the day's play on Wednesday, they aren't without a chance of pulling off the win.

A victory to the Tigers will see them jump to second on the ladder and end SA's season, while a Redbacks triumph will leave both sides well off the pace but still with an outside chance of making the final with one round remaining.

A dramatic batting collapse from Tasmania on Wednesday revived SA's ambitions after the Redbacks had conceded a 166-run deficit on the first innings.

Tasmania further extended that margin to 249 only to lose six top-order wickets for 17 runs.

Fast bowler Daniel Worrall was the chief destroyer with 4-17, as Tasmania - who began the second-last round in second - were cleaned up for 164.

Opener Jake Doran top-scored with 53 for the Tigers, before his dismissal started a slide which included ducks for key batsmen George Bailey and Matthew Wade. 

Tasmania: Alex Doolan, Jordan Silk, Beau Webster, Jake Doran, George Bailey (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Simon Milenko, Tom Rogers, Sam Rainbird, Jackson Bird, Andrew Fekete

South Australia: Conor McInerney, Jake Weatherald, Callum Ferguson, Travis Head (c), Jake Lehmann, Tom Cooper, Alex Carey (wk), Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Daniel Worrall, Nick Winter