Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird said the visitors could be further ahead at stumps on day three if they had caught a vital catch.

The Tigers are 3-131 heading into the final day of their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia and lead the Redbacks by 200 runs.

But, Jackson said the gap could have been bigger if not for a dropped catch two balls in to the Redbacks last wicket stand between Joe Mennie and Daniel Worrall which produced a 60-run partnership and helped SA to 295.

“We’ve been losing sort of key moments (this season),” Bird said.

“Or not really capitalising on key moments of the game.

“I think we sort of showed that a little bit today when we dropped that catch – we had a 115-run lead and if we’d taken that catch we’d be two hundred-and-something ahead now.”

Mennie finished the innings not out on 58 while Worrall was taken for 16 two overs into the middle session.

The Tigers came out and batted slowly, losing openers Dominic Michael (10) with the last ball before tea and then Ed Cowan (19) two balls into the final session.

Jordan Silk (14) followed soon after before Beau Webster (46 not out) and skipper Alex Doolan (32*) steadied the ship for the Tigers with a 72-run partnership.

Bird said Tasmania recovered from a slow start and finished the day strongly.

“It was a pretty slow day today,” Bird said.

“We sort of let them get away a little bit but I don’t think the game progressed very far in the first session.

“I think South Australia had a pretty good opportunity to push the game forward but I don’t think they really did.

“We bowled well this morning in patches to get that five-for and we got through a tough last session there.

Bird played down his role in dismantling the Redbacks top order on day two which saw the opening three Kelvin Smith, Mark Cosgrove and Callum Ferguson all taken for ducks.

Bird finished the innings with 4-80 from his 19 overs, including the key wickets of Smith and Ferguson.

“I feel like the ball is coming out alright,” Bird said.

“I probably was a bit expensive this morning but I suppose that can happen sometimes on a flat wicket with the second new ball.”

– AAP