The Redbacks clinched their third successive victory by reaching 7-212 off 46.3 overs in reply to the Tigers' 211 off 49.2 overs.

SA thrived on a fourth-wicket partnership of 69 off 98 balls between Ferguson and Darren Lehmann (35), but lost 3-20 in 18 balls to slide to 6-188 in the 41st over, and was 7-200 off 44.1 before Mark Cleary (six not out) and Ryan Harris (10 not out) ensured the win, which lifted the Redbacks into fourth position.

The cup table ahead of Sunday's final between Victoria and Queensland at the MCG is: Victoria 32 points, Queensland 26, Western Australia 22, SA 21, Tasmania 17 and New South Wales 13.

Man-of-the-match Ferguson was dropped on 46 - at 3-157 in the 36th over - by Jason Krejza at third man off Brendan Drew.

Earlier, Daniel Harris (13) was caught low at second slip off Drew, Mark Cosgrove (17), who had a heated verbal battle with Ben Hilfenhaus, edged Chris Duval onto his leg stump and Matthew Elliott (37), favouring a knee, was run out by Krejza's direct hit from mid-wicket.

Lehmann edged Drew onto his stumps, Nathan Adcock (0) was caught at slip by Krejza off left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty, Ferguson, who cracked a six and seven fours in his 84-ball stay, holed out to Drew at long-on off Krejza, and Graham Manou (16) was caught at short mid-wicket off Krejza.

Elliott is the competition's leading run-scorer - 465, with two centuries and two half-centuries, at an average of 51.66 in 10 matches. And Lehmann lifted his aggregate to 338 (av. 67.6) in seven matches.

Tasmania, already without injured skipper Dan Marsh, lost experienced batsman Michael Di Venuto to a groin strain in the pre-match warm-up.

Tasmania
Birt lbw b Gillespie 0 (1)
Paine c Adcock b Cleary 33 (59)
Anderson c Cosgrove b Cleary 23 (36)
Bailey lbw b R. Harris 1 (2)
Dighton run out (Lehmann) 26 (33)
Wade st Manou b Cullen 29 (41)
Krejza c Lehmann b Cullen 16 (39)
Doherty run out (Lehmann) 10 (13)
Duval c Adcock b R. Harris 32 (46)
Drew not out 27 (19)
Hilfenhaus b R. Harris 1 (8)
Extras: 13 (2lb, 1nb, 10w)
Total: 211 (10 wickets; 49.2 overs)

FoW: 1-0, 2-53, 3-54, 4-85, 5-113, 6-132, 7-144, 8-156, 9-208, 10-211

Bowling:
Gillespie 10 - 1 - 26 - 1
R. Harris 8.2 - 0 - 49 - 3 (8w)
Cleary 7 - 0 - 39 - 2 (1nb)
Lehmann 10 - 0 - 29 - 0
Cullen 10 - 0 - 35 - 2 (2w)
Adcock 2 - 0 - 14 - 0
Cosgrove 2 - 0 - 17 - 0

South Australia
D. Harris c Krejza b Drew 13 (18)
Elliott run out (Krejza) 37 (56)
Cosgrove b Duval 17 (24)
Ferguson c Drew b Krejza 63 (84)
Lehmann b Drew 35 (53)
Adcock c Krejza b Doherty 0 (1)
Manou c Bailey b Krejza 16 (21)
Cleary not out 6 (16)
R. Harris not out 10 (7)
Extras: 15 (1lb, 1nb, 13w)
Total: 212 (7 wickets; 46.3 overs)

FoW: 1-19, 2-61, 3-99, 4-168, 5-169, 6-188, 7-200

Bowling:
Hilfenhaus 10 - 0 - 28 - 0 (5w)
Drew 10 - 0 - 48 - 2 (2w)
Duval 7 - 0 - 54 - 1 (1nb, 1w)
Krejza 9.3 - 1 - 40 - 2
Doherty 10 - 0 - 41 - 1 (5w)

Sportal