Greg Blewett thrust his name before national selectors with an unbeaten half century for South Australia against an impressive Victorian attack in the Pura Cup cricket match at Adelaide Oval today.

At stumps on day two, the Redbacks finished at 2-139 in reply to the Bushrangers' first-innings total of 334.

With a top order Test spot up for grabs following the recent axing of Michael Slater from the Australian team, Blewett came in at No.3 for SA and notched nine fours on his way to 78 not out from 129 deliveries.

He was joined by Darren Lehmann (17 not out) in a battle with Victoria's Test stars Shane Warne and Colin Miller, who claimed one wicket each, while Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel and Ian Harvey bowled economically.

Blewett's knock came on the back of an impressive English county season for Nottinghamshire and 1,162 first-class runs at an average of 68.35 for SA in 2000-01, which included a brilliant 260 not out against Queensland in Brisbane.

Miller made the early breakthrough for the Bushrangers on the final ball of his first over when he dismissed SA opener Shane Deitz (five), caught superbly by veteran Victorian wicketkeeper Darren Berry at full stretch diving low to his left.

Blewett and David Fitzgerald settled into a 71-run partnership before Warne had Fitzgerald caught behind for 34.

After the Bushrangers resumed at 4-228 this morning, with Brad Hodge on 100, Ian Harvey let loose.

Having faced 60 balls for his 29 the day before, he added another 33 from 46 deliveries, putting on a 104-run stand with Hodge.

But Harvey's knock ended on 62 when he lofted spinner Brad Young straight down the ground to be caught by Fitzgerald midway through the first session.

Berry (five) followed a short time later, thanks to a sharp Blewett catch at first slip off the bowling of Mark Harrity.

Test paceman Jason Gillespie then claimed his first wicket for the match when he bowled Warne (four) with a ball that ripped off stump out of the ground. Reiffel followed and Victoria went to lunch at 8-321.

Hodge went on to reach his best first-class score of 140 before he was caught by Blewett off the bowling of Young in the second over after the break.

Three overs later, Gillespie had Fleming caught by Fitzgerald in front of square leg for seven, leaving Miller the not out batsman on three.

Young finished with 3-70 for the Redbacks while Gillespie, Harrity and Paul Rofe took two wickets each.

© 2001 AAP