Fitzgerald&Lehmann in record stand for South Australia in Sheffield Shield Sydney: Test batsman Darren Lehmann and opener David Fitzgerald blunted a strong New South Wales attack to set South Australia off to a blazing start in the Sheffield Shield cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. NSW captain Steve Waugh's decision to send SA into bat on a green wicket appeared to have backfired before Brett Lee took his third five-wicket haul in as many innings to put SA at 319 for five 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 153, the pair's partnership SA's best for the second wicket against NSW at the Sydney ground. A trap set by stand-in captain Michael Kasprowicz to snare the prized wicket of Tasmania skipper Ricky Pointing and some aggressive bowling by Andy Bichel put Queensland in the box seat at the Gabba. Queensland, facing a potentially huge run chase when Tasmania cruised at 98 without loss at lunch, ran the cleaners through soon after with Test paceman Bichel shutting down Tasmania's innings on 187 when he shattered tail-ender Shane Jurgensen's stumps. Bichel captured four for 46. At the close Queensland was in good shape at 69 for one trailing Tasmania's meagre first innings by 118 runs.

Tags: cricket, sydney, test batsman darren lehmann, opener david fitzgerald, blunted strong attack, blazing start, sheffield shield match, sydney ground, captain steve waugh's decision, bat, on green wicket, backfired, brett lee, third five-wicket haul, century, michael kasprowicz, ricky ponting, aggressive bowling, andy bichel.