South Australia is a disappointing 9/213 after the first day's play in the Pura Cup match against Queensland here at the Adelaide Oval.

In unseasonally hot conditions, Queensland must have dreaded losing the toss and, with just one wicket down for 137 just before tea, South Australia were well placed to really give the visitors a fight for the points in this match. Shane Deitz (45), although slow, was going well in a solid stand with Greg Blewett (88) who, for the eighth time running, had scored fifty or more in a Pura Cup innings.

The second wicket stand had realised 132 runs when Deitz started the horrific slide, top edging a short one to the 'keeper attempting a pull shot that gave Andy Bichel (3/59) the first of three well earned wickets.

Deitz had lasted three and a quarter hours in a solid effort, but the turning point in the day came when Blewett essayed a pull shot at Bichel, got it high on the bat and was caught at a short mid on by Stuart Law, fifteen metres away and adjacent to the pitch.

Blewett had played particularly well, hitting nine crisp boundaries and a beautifully driven straight drive for six off the off spinner Scott O'Leary. Following his departure, the pendulum swung severely back to the Bulls as the batsmen lost their way against tight and disciplined bowling.

Darren Lehmann (14) and new cap Ben Higgins (7) struggled for an hour in a partnership of eighteen, before Lehmann found the frustrations of a tightly set off side field too much, playing on to Joe Dawes (2/43). Dawes also accounted for Nathan Adcock (13) who edged a bouncer while attempting a hook.

In between times, Higgins languished for an hour and a half for his runs. And, once he was bowled behind his pads attempting to sweep, SA had gone from 1/137 to 6/175 in two hours of disaster.

The one positive to come from the last session for SA was the undefeated innings of 22 from Mike Smith, who batted for an hour. Nonetheless, he was also partly responsible for the run out of Peter McIntyre (1). When Smith slipped coming back for a second run, McIntyre stopped, but Smith somehow found his footing and kept coming; sadly for McIntyre, it was then too late to scamper home despite a wayward throw.

Bichel bowled well, passing the outside edge on a number occasions; Adam Dale (2/39) was his usual uncompromising self; and Dawes, who often is on the short side, deserved his wickets.

As usual, the captaincy of Law was also to the fore. He carefully planned his field placings all day, creating a plan which, as the six hours wore on, created a noose which tightened around the home side's batsmen.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd