South Australia edge honours after topsy-turvy day

South Australian captain Greg Blewett became his state's third-highest first-class runscorer in the Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup as he led a spirited Redbacks fightback against Western Australia on day one of the match at the WACA Ground today.

Blewett passed Les Favell's aggregate total of 8269 runs with a towering straight six, and looked ready to hammer his way to three figures until he was stumped by Ryan Campbell on 85.

In the process, the prolific former Australian Test batsman rescued SA from a parlous situation, after WA paceman Peter Worthington had taken three wickets in eight balls to leave the visitors teetering on 4-50.

On a topsy turvy day, South Australia closed on 9-316, with Mick Miller aiding and abetting his captain with a battling 79, him and Blewett putting on 165 for the fifth wicket.

Blewett's landmark was in stark contrast to new SA recruit Andy Flower's first taste of Australian domestic cricket, which ended ignominiously with a fourth-ball duck.

The former Zimbabwean Test star, one of the elite band of cricketers with a Test average over 50, was the middle victim of Worthington's three-wicket burst, his first scalps in the first-class game.

After all the controversy surrounding Flower's exit from the international stage, his entry into the Australian domestic arena could not have been more low key.

In front of a handful of chilly spectators at the WACA Ground, Flower entered the fray under slate grey skies to a polite ripple of applause.

And perhaps the lack of occasion perpetuated his inglorious innings, dabbing an easy chance to short leg Shaun Marsh off the bowling of unheralded Worthington to end his two minute stay at the crease.

Worthington (3-56), who had never taken a first-class wicket for West Australia before this match, made up for lost time with three in eight balls.

Darren Wates, playing his first Pura Cup match for almost four years, ended a promising opening stand of 40 by snaring David Fitzgerald (24).

A regulation caught behind for Campbell got rid of other opener Shane Deitz (18) for Worthington's first,

That heralded Flower's arrival and swift departure, and when Mark Higgs' (0) ugly swish gave Campbell his second catch of the morning, SA were in deep trouble.

Consolidation by Miller and Blewett before lunch gave way to cavalier strokeplay after, with the pair adding 72 in the first hour after the break and completing their 100 partnership in 98 minutes.

After passing Favell's mark with a maximum off spinner Beau Casson, Blewett repeated the dose next ball to bring up the 150 partnership with Miller.

Three fours in an over off Michael Hussey's part time medium pace maintained the tempo, before Casson had his revenge, tempting the skipper into missing a drive which Campbell capitalised on.

Casson then bowled Graham Manou first ball, before Canadian World Cup hero John Davison slammed a quickfire 35 off 23 balls, and Mark Cleary a handy 36 not out.