A last session counter-attack by South Australian captain Darren Lehmann and Cameron Borgas pegged back a previously rampant Victoria on day two of the Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval

The Redbacks slid to 4-70 at tea, before Lehmann (75 not out) and Borgas (66) added 121 in 119 minutes to take SA to 5-197 at stumps.

The Redbacks are still some distance short of the Bushrangers' 6(dec)-385, but close enough to leave the game open to either side.

Borgas fell unluckily in the shadows of the close, deadbatting Shane Warne (2-65) only to see the ball spin treacherously backwards to disturb his off bail.

Lehmann's typically busy, 87-ball innings included consecutive boundaries against Warne, who has seldom been able to get the better of his good friend and onetime teammate for Victoria and Australia.

The visitors had earlier declared during the lunch interval, after all-rounder Andrew McDonald (88) and young wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite (72 not out) each posted their best first class score amid a string of tidy strokes.

No.8 Jon Moss (43 not out) possessed more than enough skill to accelerate as the closure neared.

Though Matthew Elliott began SA's response by unfurling a trio of driven boundaries, his innings was ended at 19 by McDonald and Crosthwaite, as a miscued hook fell into the keeper's gloves.

Shane Deitz, who had narrowly edged Daniel Harris out of an opening berth, did little wrong but on 23 he was defeated by a superlative delivery from Gerard Denton - angling in from around the wicket but moving away just enough to catch the outside edge.

Mark Cosgrove's arrival prompted Cameron White to call on Warne, and the left-hander's discomfort at facing spin early in his innings was confirmed by a tame return catch 10 minutes before the break.

Callum Ferguson was similarly ill at ease, and he contrived to scoop one back to White in the last over of the session.

The tea break brought relief that was extended by Borgas and Lehmann, as the Bushrangers struggled for a way through their defences and occasionally resulted to oddball fields.

Borgas' composure was admirable, and he used the full width of his crease to strike boundaries off both front and back foot.

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