On a day when a Queenslander talked of his love for Tasmania, and when four different umpires were used in the space of eleven minutes of play, it might have been hard to maintain any sense of perspective about the general progress of this Pura Cup match between Tasmania and South Australia. But it can at least be reported that the home team is in an authoritative position at the game's scheduled halfway point, having compiled a first innings score of 5/413 and reduced the Redbacks to a mark of 4/126 by the close.

A maiden first-class century and two wickets to ex-Queensland youngster Shane Watson (105 and 2/22) served to provide the starring individual performance of the day. But the onset of illness to Umpire Barry Jackman - a stomach upset forcing him to leave the ground shortly before tea - also made for some drama, the most bizarre of replacements (Tasmanian coach Greg Shipperd) used as an interim measure before a local grade umpire filled the void in the final session.

Just to add to the confusion, South Australian captain Greg Blewett (27) appeared to be given out to a slips catch with his score at 13 but was then permitted to continue his innings after expressing umbrage at the decision. From an edge at left armer Andrew Downton (0/35), Daniel Marsh initially appeared to have clutched a chance low to the ground at first slip. While Marsh himself was unsure, his teammates around him were convinced of the catch's legitimacy and began to celebrate accordingly. But, as the Tasmanians gathered in a huddle, so Blewett was unwilling to leave.

Thankfully, this was all long after Shipperd - clad in a green and gold Tasmanian tracksuit while he fulfilled the role of a square leg umpire for three overs - had been relieved of his new duties by Brian Pollard, a local first grade official hastily rushed to the ground during the tea adjournment.

Shipperd's participation produced a spectacle more akin to schoolboy cricket. Happily, the same analogy didn't extend to Watson's batting.

In truth, the nineteen year old - plucked by Tasmania in mid-season from his base at the Australian Cricket Academy - only added another eighteen runs to his overnight tally. Instead, it was left to Shaun Young (83*) and Scott Kremerskothen (46*) to do most of the scoring in the lead-up to Tasmania's closure twenty-two minutes after lunch. But, in raising his three-figured landmark with an off driven boundary from the bowling of Mike Smith (4/81) twenty-five minutes into proceedings, it was Watson who evinced the small crowd's strongest round of applause of the day.

He then made a late return to centre stage by snaring the crucial wickets of Blewett, luring the key South Australian batsman into a mistimed pull that lobbed a catch to Downton's left at mid on, and Cameron Borgas (0), who fell lbw to a yorker.

Insofar as it was possible for Watson to improve on his lot by then, the day might have ended even more happily still if Damien Wright had held a low chance in the gully off his bowling to remove Nathan Adcock (6*). But he wasn't in a mood to complain.

"Last night, I didn't sleep very well and I was just hoping I'd get those extra thirteen runs to get my first (first-class) hundred. But now I'm feeling really good, that's for sure," he said after play.

"The feeling (on reaching the hundred) - you just can't repeat it. I got goosebumps … it was just such a big thrill," he added.

"I've got absolutely no regrets (about coming to Tasmania). If I'd stayed, I would just have been playing club cricket back in Queensland. I'm absolutely loving it down here."

The South Australians, for their part, toiled manfully. On a pitch offering decreasing assistance to the bowlers, medium pacer Smith was again impressive in the excellent eight over spell from the Church Street End that opened the morning. His line and length was sound, he bowled at an economical cost, and he honoured some strong off side field settings that his captain had fashioned for him. Leg spinner Peter McIntyre (0/70) also did not fail for want of trying and was probably unlucky that at least one of a succession of lbw appeals in mid-morning did not go his way.

Unfortunately for the Redbacks, the job of performing effectively with the bat proved little easier than the task had been with the ball. Openers David Fitzgerald (17) and Shane Deitz (25) made a solid start but the loss of their wickets to Wright (2/37) in mid-afternoon ushered in a tough close to the day for the visitors. Blewett played some typically sweet drives at times but never really got going. Borgas, a highly regarded seventeen year old, also struggled during his brief period at the crease.

In the end, it was twenty-nine year old left hander Ben Higgins (50*) - with a neat, measured innings - who headed the South Australian cause. He was composed, exhibited nice timing and placement, and played well off both the front and back foot. It seems that the Redbacks' chances of avoiding the follow-on (still 138 runs away), and of restoring parity in this match, might well rest largely on his shoulders again tomorrow.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd