One was the Redbacks batting, the other the Adelaide Oval pitch.

SA's stand-in skipper Daniel Harris (166 not out) and nightwatchman Cullen Bailey (91) lodged career-high scores on the final day as the Redbacks salvaged a draw.

Harris and Bailey batted until 15 minutes after tea on the final day in a 200-run partnership that ensured the draw.

SA's second innings finished at 3-340 when the captains agreed to end play an hour early when Victoria's outright victory hopes were extinguished.

The Bushrangers dominated the initial three days, bowling SA out for 292 on the opening day and responding with an imposing 9(dec)-643.

They fancied their chances of getting eight wickets on the final day to collect full points against a batting line-up not renowned for resistance.

But the Vics were stonewalled by the determined Harris and Bailey on a heartbreaker of a pitch offering no seam movement for pacemen and limited, sluggish spin.

"It's a very flat wicket isn't it ... it's very difficult to get batters out," Hussey said.

"It didn't crumble as much as what we hoped.

"We tried everything, we got up to plan D by the end and unfortunately we got three wickets (for the second innings)."

Harris's match-saving knock was hatched by his bitter disappointment at chasing leather on day two, when Bushrangers batsmen Brad Hodge (195) and Chris Rogers (149) tore the SA bowlers apart.

"It hurts a lot when you are running around the park ... it felt like we couldn't get anything right," Harris said of the second day.

"And that hurts a lot, it means you have got extra incentive to get some runs."

The 29-year-old qualified doctor, leading in the absence of regular skipper Graham Manou, became the fourth South Australian to lodge a century on debut as captain.

He turned his fourth first-class century into his highest score while Bailey's 91 was the best return by a nightwatchman for SA in Shield history.

Harris knew after the second day he had no chance of winning, saying pride then became the chief motivator for the Redbacks.

"It's a good result for us ... we can take the positive vibe of getting away with a draw," he said.

Legspinner Bryce McGain (1-95 from 36 overs) was the sole bowler to take a wicket on the final day.