Manou ruffled but unbeaten

Redbacks Graham Manou calls for a single during the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland Bulls at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Ray Titus Source: AdelaideNow

Manou, who has a hole in his heart which was diagnosed when he was 11, somehow masterminded the uprising that gave SA a shot at avoiding a damaging outright loss to Queensland in Adelaide.

Manou, 31, became dizzy while keeping during Queensland's first innings of 347 on Monday but the symptoms worsened overnight - making his knock yesterday more incredible.

"I had a few heart issues on Monday actually. It was a bit weird so it all caught up with me today. It went a bit funny. It was a bit of a different feeling to what I am used to having. It worried me a little bit," said Manou.

"Normally when I have an episode it feels like the heart is coming out of the chest but this time it felt like my whole chest was caving in and someone was squeezing my heart."

Former Australian keeper Manou has only ever experienced an on-field heart issue once in a 12-year, 101-game first-class career but yesterday's incident was more serious. "My whole chest was sore. In those situations you have to try and drop your heart rate. I started to cramp up a bit," said Manou, permitted several drinks breaks by understanding Bulls skipper James Hopes.

The Redbacks (7/275) finished 72 runs behind the young Bulls' first innings total at stumps and need further heroics from top-scorer Manou and tailender Nathan Lyon (0 not out) entering day three.

"In any game someone in your top six has to post a decent total, has to go on and make a hundred and I have the opportunity to do that," said Manou, SA's second most prolific batsman behind Aiden Blizzard (503 at 38.6) this season and the only one to average over 40 with 437 runs.

"Hopefully I can make a hundred and Nathan sticks around as well."

SA's batsmen all got starts except stand-in skipper Dan Christian (0) but it was former leader Manou who showed critical gumption yesterday in a stubborn 63-run, seventh-wicket stand with aspiring allrounder Kane Richardson (25).

Manou was SA's beacon of hope for first innings points after losing Aiden Blizzard (64) still 150 runs shy of its target then No. 7 Cullen Bailey (0) without troubling the scorers.

Yet debutant Richardson proved a fine foil before exiting. It was a promising addendum to the wonder from Eudunda's 4/79 in the Bulls' first dig.