Record stand sets SA off to blazing start

SYDNEY, Nov 14 AAP - Test batsman Darren Lehmann and South Australian opener David Fitzgerald stood up against a star-studded NSW and set the Redbacks off to a blazing start in their Pura Cup cricket match at the SCG today.

NSW captain Steve Waugh's decision to send SA in to bat on a green wicket in gloomy conditions appeared to have backfired before Brett Lee took his third five-wicket haul in as many innings to put the visitors at 5-319 at stumps.

By the close of play on day one, John Davison was not out nine and Shane Deitz was on four following a record 191-run stand between Lehmann and Fitzgerald.

Lehmann fell just shy of his century with 97 while Fitzgerald carved out an elegant 153, the pair's partnership SA's best for the second wicket against NSW at the Sydney ground.

SA went into the match severely undermanned with Test paceman Jason Gillespie being rested and star batsman Greg Blewett on Australia A duties.

To make matters worse, Redbacks bowler Damien Fleming was a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury and batsman Chris Davies pulled out with a hamstring complaint last night.

NSW on the other hand had Michael Bevan, Michael Slater, Simon Katich and Stuart MacGill joining Lee and the Waugh brothers.

Lee continued his campaign for a Test re-call following his 10-wicket haul against Tasmania last weekend in response to his axing from the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

The 26-year-old, who was today predictably selected in Australia's 12-man squad for next week's Adelaide Test, took all of the Blues' wickets to finish with 5-80 from 25 overs.

After an initial five-over spell, Lee returned to the attack in the 20th over and struck with a sizzling third delivery.

The ball struck Ben Johnson's bat high as the left-hander fell backwards and the ball popped into the air, finding the safe hands of Steve Waugh, running in from gully to take a strong catch diving forward and dismissing the batsman for 29.

The Blues missed out on taking another wicket in the first over after lunch when Fitzgerald, on 30, edged a Don Nash delivery with SA on 1-83.

Wicketkeeper Nathan Pilon - standing in for Australia A gloveman Brad Haddin - got his hand to the ball as he stretched forward and to his right but failed to take the difficult chance.

Pilon also spilled a chance off Lehmann when he was on 47 and the score 1-131.

Attempting to take a catch off the bowling of Nathan Bracken, Pilon dived across first slip Katich but the ball bounced off his glove and hit Katich on the chin, forcing the fielder off the ground for treatment.

The Blues introduced Mark Waugh, the man Lehmann replaced in the Test side, in a bid to break the partnership, but to no avail and SA went to tea at 1-209.

It was not until Lee was brought back into the attack half an hour after the break that the breakthrough came, the paceman clean bowling Lehmann with the first ball of his spell.

Fitzgerald took SA past the 300 mark before Lee found a top edge to have him caught behind.

Lee then dismissed Ben Higgins (13) and Mark Higgs (0) with successive balls.