NSW scrape home despite Lehmann's stunning 237

New South Wales 9 for 350 decl. and 4 for 299 dec. (Mail 152*, Phelps 62) beat South Australia 129 (Flower 44, Nicholson 5-36) and 495 (Lehmann 237, Manou 130, Higgs 50; MacGill 4-144) by 25 runs
Scorecard

Darren Lehmann's magnificent 237 - off just 238 balls - wasn't quite enough as New South Wales held on for a thrilling 25-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Needing 521 for victory, South Australia were in the box seat at 4 for 434 midway through the morning, only to lose three wickets - including Lehmann's - for five in an engrossing passage of play before lunch.

Mark Higgs, who contributed two to a partnership of 64 with Lehmann, kept the momentum going after his departure with a fine 50, but when he played on to Matthew Nicholson, it was all over.

Predictably, the morning was all about Lehmann's one-man show, and his intriguing tussle with Stuart MacGill, who he had walloped with disdain the previous afternoon. Resuming on 149 not out, Lehmann raced from 150 to 237 in just 55 deliveries, slamming 14 fours on the way. It was an exhilarating effort that kept South Australia in the hunt to pull off the greatest run chase in first-class history - surpassing the 9 for 513 Central Province made to beat Southern Province at Kandy in Sri Lanka just over six weeks ago.

But when Lehmann whacked a MacGill delivery to Steve Waugh at cover, South Australia stuttered. Lehmann trudged off, clearly furious with himself at having left the door ajar for New South Wales. When Michael Miller was leg before to MacGill soon after, and Nicholson trapped John Davison in front, the comeback was complete, with South Australia precariously placed at 6 for 439.

Higgs put together useful partnerships with Mark Cleary and Shaun Tait, but they weren't quite enough to drag South Australia across the line. For New South Wales, MacGill emerged with some credit after his mauling at the hands of Lehmann, finishing with 4 for 144.

For New South Wales, the defending champions, the equation is now simple. If Tasmania fail to pick up any points in their final game against Victoria, and New South Wales manage an outright victory against Queensland, they will qualify to take on Victoria in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. For South Australia, only pride will be at stake when they play Western Australia in their final outing. Lehmann can console himself with a seat on the plane to Sri Lanka.