Teenager Tait and Blewett drive Redbacks

BRISBANE - South Australian teenager Shaun Tait left Queensland on the mat during his first visit to the Gabba today as the Redbacks surged to first innings points in the Pura Cup match.

Tait took three wickets from his first 13 deliveries, including the scalp of Test batsman Martin Love, as Queensland was skittled for 129 before South Australia edged to 2-136 at stumps on the first day.

The 19-year-old Tait finished his eventful day by guiding the Redbacks to first innings points when he edged Michael Kasprowicz to the third-man boundary during a shaky stint as nightwatchman.

His return of 3-19 from nine overs looked much better than his streaky 12 not out but the South Australians were smiling tonight after rebounding from their embarrassing total of 83 during a one-day loss to Queensland on Friday.

Captain Greg Blewett provided a quality knock of 66 but perhaps his most important contribution came at the toss when he sent Queensland in on a wicket which helped the bowlers.

Tait, from the Adelaide Hills town of Dawesely, thought the wicket settled down after lunch but he was then counting the wickets of Love (34), James Hopes (one) and Wade Seccombe (three) during his second appearance for the Redbacks.

With Paul Rofe (3-38) and Mark Harrity (3-37) also strangling Queensland's batsmen, the Redbacks laid the foundation for their second away win in as many years against the competition leaders.

Tait had never been to the ground before he arrived for this match but it already ranks as one of his favourite venues.

"I thought it would be a lot flatter and I didn't think it would be as good as that for bowlers," Tait said.

"It's definitely different to Adelaide, but it doesn't seem to bad for batsmen when they get in."

Love, who fell to Tait's first delivery, and the improving Lee Carseldine (41) were the only Queensland batsmen to "get in", showing the patience that was missing among some of their team-mates.

The Bulls were in trouble at 3-17, losing Brendan Nash before a run was scored while former skipper Stuart Law continued his dreadful summer when he was bowled by Harrity for four.

Law has 97 runs from 10 completed Pura Cup innings this summer.

Redbacks opener David Fitzgerald (40 not out) showed the necessary diligence on the Gabba wicket, even if he went 77 minutes without scoring, to figure in a 98-run stand with Blewett.

Fitzgerald was twice dropped on 19 off the bowling of Adam Dale (0-20), but Seccombe and Carseldine spilled tough chances.

Blewett was on track for his third consecutive Pura Cup century at the Gabba until he was bowled by Dawes, failing to offer a shot to the former police officer.

Dawes claimed the first wicket when he had Ben Johnson (15) caught off a leading edge by Carseldine at third slip.