Records tumble in 'unbelievable' Sheffield Shield masterclass

South Australia made light of some key absentees to pile on the runs on a record-breaking opening day of their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

Redbacks batsmen Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt both posted big centuries to rewrite the record books on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Adelaide Oval.

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Winless South Australia piled on the runs to end Monday's play at an imposing 1-359 after winning the toss.

Weatherald finished unbeaten on a career-best 195, while Hunt scored his maiden first-class ton before being dismissed in the final hour for 132.

The openers put on a mammoth 293 runs, eclipsing the long-standing first-wicket wicket record for South Australia of 281, set 52 years ago by Les Favell and John Causby.

Weatherald had only managed a high score of 25 in his previous five Shield innings.

However, the classy left-handed batsman put on an Adelaide Oval masterclass on Monday to fire himself back into form.

The Tigers tried all sorts of tactics in the field but Weatherald seemingly found an answer to everything the visitors threw at him.

Tigers bowlers put to the sword

The Redbacks lined up without senior players, Travis Head and Alex Carey, both on Australia A duty in the three-day match against Pakistan in Perth.

Minus Riley Meredith, also playing for Australia A, Tasmania had few answers, with medium-pacer Lawrence Neil-Smith (1-74) the only bowler to break through.

The medium-pacer had Hunt caught at the wicket after skying a pull shot, but only after the rookie had posted his maiden ton off 211 balls in just his fourth match.

Weatherald ended the day just shy of his maiden first-class double century, having reached the boundary 29 times in a 275-ball knock.

Callum Ferguson is the other not out batsman on 20.

With AAP