Lehmann blows chance as NSW thrashes SA

ADELAIDE, Oct 27 AAP - If this was a Test audition, Darren Lehmann did himself no favours as his South Australian team was blown away inside three days by an impressive New South Wales.

Given just one Pura Cup match to prove his touch as the favourite for a Test batting spot if Mark Waugh is dropped, Lehmann faltered twice on his beloved Adelaide Oval.

He managed only seven runs - after being dropped once - as the Redbacks crumbled to be all out for 170 in their second innings today, giving NSW an outright victory by an innings and 71 runs just after tea.

Rushed back after sitting through Australia's 3-0 Test sweep of Pakistan, the SA skipper had been dropped twice in a scratchy first innings knock of 45.

His efforts were in stark contrast to the blazing 129 made by 21-year-old test hopeful Michael Clarke in NSW's only innings, not to mention the 177 by Test discard and man of the match Michael Slater.

NSW, which scored 6 (dec)-474, took 12 wickets in just over two sessions today, wrapping up SA's first innings for 233 before enforcing the follow-on.

The Blues' cheap dismissals of Lehmann may have done absent NSW team-mate Mark Waugh a big favour.

Redbacks coach Greg Chappell was unwilling to speculate on which way the Test selectors were likely to go, but said Clarke, rated an outside chance of a Test call-up, had impressed.

Clarke knock was his second successive century from two Pura Cup innings this season, after his 134 against Queensland at the Gabba.

"I think he's a very good young player and I think he's got a great future," Chappell said.

"I don't want to make any comment about the Test team."

Don Nash was the chief second innings destroyer for NSW with 4-30, while fellow pacemen Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken each took two wickets.

But it was leg-spinner Stuart MacGill who claimed the prize scalp of Lehmann.

Dropped on four, by Corey Richards at mid-on when he skied an attempted pull shot off MacGill's bowling, Lehmann added only three more runs before he tried to on-drive MacGill.

He hit the ball straight to NSW skipper Simon Katich, at midwicket, who gratefully accepted the face-high catch.

Katich said he was thrilled with the complete nature of his team's performance.

"Each aspect of the game we did really well," he said.

"Obviously to get 470 on the board after being sent in was a great total, it was a fantastic achievement.

"With the bowling, each of the bowlers contributed, so it was a great all-round effort."

Katich praised the recalled Slater's contribution.

"For what he's been through it's a tribute to his character, for him to come back and get 170-odd is a big compliment to him having worked hard," Katich said.