As murder on a cricket field goes, this was as grisly and macabre as it gets. Tasmania was torn asunder here in Hobart today, as Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett indulged in a record-breaking feast of runmaking that helped South Australia into a dominant position by stumps on the third day of the teams' Pura Cup match.

Principally, it was the South Australian captain Lehmann (246) who was responsible for the carnage that reigned as the Redbacks clattered their way to a total of 5/589 in response to Tasmania's 7/382. If he doesn't have the best eye in Australian cricket, it would represent a near-impossible quest to determine who has a better one. For 295 rollicking minutes, his was batting at its most clinical and invincible.

From an evenly-balanced position overnight, the brilliant left hander joined with fellow former international Blewett (163) in a 386-run association for the second wicket that caused serial shredding of pre-existing South Australian partnership records.

Most notable among them was the previous all-time best for the state for the second wicket, formerly owned by no less a duo than Ian Chappell and Barry Richards courtesy of their 308-run liaison against Western Australia in Perth in 1970-71.

As he hooked, cut, drove and glanced with brutality, Lehmann struck his 56th first-class century; his seventh double hundred; and his eighth against Tasmania. Phenomenally, not even the production of a score of 163 at the other end elevated Blewett beyond the status of a junior partner.

Lehmann played every shot in the book, and characteristically even invented plenty more besides. A total of 100 runs came off his own bat in the first session, and another 115 after lunch. He simply bullied, biffed and battered his opposing bowlers and fielders into submission. Though he made about as many runs as there were spectators at the ground, it's doubtful that anyone who saw this blend of deft finesse, raw power and daring improvisation will ever forget it.

And all on a pitch still offering genuine assistance to the bowlers.

"I'd said to my wife last night that, if I could get a hundred here, I'd probably put it up there as one of my best ever (innings)," avowed Lehmann after play.

"It was a tough wicket and to get 200 … well, I just had one of those days. Everything went the way you would want it to go as a batter; everything I hit went into the gaps and, even if it went in the air, it fell into the gaps anyway.

"The breaking of records represents just a pat on the back when it comes by, I suppose. But we weren't really conscious of that at all and, when it comes along later, you think that's nice. Nothing more than that, really."

His domination was so complete that a manifest air of anti-climax prevailed once he was caught on the third man boundary improvising with an uppercut at Damien Wright (2/98) shortly before tea. Play thereafter almost resembled an act of mopping up in the wake of a cyclone.

This was despite the fact that Blewett and Ben Higgins (69*) kept the momentum flowing to ensure that the Redbacks smashed their way to a total of 481 runs for the day.

Lehmann was within just ten runs of his highest first-class score by the end of a stunning exhibition that was laced with 39 shots into the boundary and another four over it. He had also surged to within just 43 runs of surpassing Jamie Siddons to become the greatest-ever scorer in the history of this 109-year old competition.

Typically, though, his mind by then had moved far beyond any immediate individual concerns and instead to the timing and size of the lead that he should use to assist his side to bowl out Tasmania tomorrow.

The home side, meanwhile, was not only left to lament the general lack of variation in the look of its attack but also its inability to create difficulties even when different options were tried. The Tigers not only used seven bowlers, but they also opted for both spin and pace and bowled everything ranging from yorkers to towering bouncers.

But nothing could shift Lehmann nor, perhaps more importantly, even subdue him.

Certainty, leadership and strength has been a catch cry used elsewhere in Australia in recent weeks. And its full resonance will be tested later tonight.

But, on a cricket field, there couldn't have been any better demonstration of the three qualities than what was on offer today.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd