Normally a Greg Blewett (117) century would put South Australia on top after a day's play at the Adelaide Oval. But, in extreme heat, Victoria's bowlers would probably be well pleased with their effort in restricting the Redbacks to a scoreline of 4/261 on a typically good batting wicket following the opening six hours of the Pura Cup match between the teams here at the Adelaide Oval.

The Vics restricted South Australia's batsmen to 82, 83 and 96 runs in the three respective sessions as the heat really took its toll. Regular fluid intake was the order of the day with the sprinkler cover adjacent to the wicket square resembling a mini-bar more than a spot to store helmets. In temperatures that hovered close to the thirty-eight degree mark for much for the day, players continually migrated back to the sprinkler-style oasis in an effort to re-hydrate themselves.

Blewett will sleep well tonight - provided that his infant child does similarly - after his four hour stay. The innings was laced with strong drives through the off side and the hook shot for good measure on the odd occasion the visiting bowlers dropped short. It wasn't a pitch for such bowling in truth but the odd bit of variation didn't actually hurt too much as the Bushrangers toiled imaginatively and manfully in a difficult search for wickets.

The South Australian vice-captain had joined the fray after a fifty-six run union for the first wicket between David Fitzgerald (50) and Shane Deitz (25). The latter in fact looked rather unlucky to be dismissed as the ball seemed to pass his bat and clip his pad on the way through to wicketkeeper Peter Roach. It seemed Umpire Patterson gave the left hander out leg before but it was later confirmed that there had been a edge and that that had been the reason for Victoria's one and only success before lunch.

After the break, Fitzgerald and Blewett stayed together until the fourth hour of the day, before the former West Australian edged a John Davison (2/64) delivery to slip, where Ian Harvey took a good catch. Fitzgerald's 134 ball stay represented the rock around which Blewett could build in a partnership of eighty-four runs from thirty-one overs.

Darren Lehmann (21) was a little more circumspect than normal, taking three quarters of an hour over his twelve runs to tea, but signalled his intentions immediately after the resumption hitting Davison's second ball for a six over long on.

The offie had his revenge, though, in his next over as the SA skipper pushed a ball to a short mid wicket position where Jason Arnbeger held the first of two catches, this one as he came forward and low to his right.

Blewett duly brought up his ton and then was dropped in the first over with the second new ball. With the South Australian's score on 111, Mathew Inness grassed what seemed a genuine caught and bowled chance. Inness' drop cost little more than a few overs' frustration, however. After yet another drink break, Blewett pulled a delivery from the left armer to square leg to end a fine knock.

Jeff Vaughan (15*), who came in at the fall of his captain's wicket, laboured for seventy-three balls and 130 minutes for his runs, playing like a man who is feeling as though every innings could be his last. He and Chris Davies (21*) saw things through to stumps but will have a tough task ahead of them again in the morning when the Victorians will return with a still fairly new ball and be striving to remove the remainder of the recognised batsmen quickly.

Victoria's bowlers generally performed extremely creditably, although it should be noted that skipper Paul Reiffel (0/40), who copped a knock to the knee late in the day in the field, was a little short. Harvey (1/35) bowled well in his pre-lunch and post-tea spells at the crease, while Inness (1/53) toiled hard and deserved his wicket late in the day.

In more high temperatures tomorrow, the game looks set to continue to be a "survival of the sauna" on a pitch that is already resembling the A1 highway.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd