A dire day for South Australia was a bright one for new Victorian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade as the Bushrangers clambered all over the home side in the Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval.

Wade made 83 runs to shepherd his side to a healthy total of 438 then claimed four catches to put the visitors in total command by stumps on the second day.

SA limped to 8-162 with a display that made a mockery of pre-season talk about how much work the squad had done on their batting.

Excellent though the pressure was from Gerard Denton (3-30), Dirk Nannes (3-36) and leg spinner Bryce McGain (1-39), a series of poor shot choices, including an airy swing by new captain Nathan Adcock, had much to do with the sorry scoreline.

The visitors earlier lost three wickets in the first hour, but Wade (83) held SA's bowlers until lunch with a combination of skill and good fortune as he helped 118 to be added for the final two wickets.

It was an impressive performance by the 19-year-old who had previously played just one domestic limited-overs game for Tasmania.

He didn't feel confident of getting a start with the Tigers so in the off-season decided to try his luck in Victoria, squeezing past rival Adam Crosthwaite to claim a place in this match.

"(Victoria) play their cricket really hard, I knew that and I wanted to be a part of it, that's why I came over and I feel really welcome," he said.

Compact in defence, Wade also showed a good range of shots, but had a measure of luck in surviving difficult return catch chances from Daniel Cullen (2-125) and Cullen Bailey, while Jason Gillespie made a hash of a high ball in the shadow of lunch.

Wade formed a pesky alliance with Peter Siddle to take the total beyond 350 and last man Dirk Nannes (31 not out) struck a few blows of his own to take the total well beyond 400.

The last pair had added 75 for the 10th wicket by the time skipper Nathan Adcock brought himself on and claimed Wade caught and bowled first ball.

Jason Borgas began SA's reply in ordinary fashion by wafting at Denton to be caught behind and his brother Cameron fared little better, dropped first ball by Jewell at midwicket before edging a length delivery from Denton.

Cosgrove (34) looked good until he was caught at bat pad off McGain on the stroke of tea and Elliott (42) was similarly comfortable until Nannes found appreciable lift to catch the edge.

Skipper Nathan Adcock (eight) drove irresponsibly at Nannes to be taken at slip, Daniel Harris (16) squeezed a catch to short leg off the bowling of Cameron White, recalled 'keeper Graham Manou (16) drove loosely to point and Ryan Harris (13) hooked ambitiously and was well caught by Wade running with the flight of the ball.

"We're trying to put the batting behind us, it wasn't a good day, that's all I'll say, don't want to say too much about that," Harris said.

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