Queensland veteran Chris Hartley rated his fighting century as the finest of his career after it placed the Bulls in a commanding position in a tense Sheffield Shield final against defending champions Tasmania at the Gabba.
But Test opener Ed Cowan stands in the way of a Bulls victory after the hosts dominated day three of the enthralling decider before bad light ended play early.
At stumps, the Tigers were 6-136 – a lead of 101 runs – with Cowan unbeaten on 59 and allrounder Luke Butterworth not out 11.
“I was really glad that on a pretty tricky wicket and in a tough situation, I played the game I wanted to play,” said Hartley, who has been battling a virus he picked up on Thursday.
“I’ve have to rate that (century) up there pretty highly.”
The decision by umpires Bruce Oxenford and Simon Fry to suspend play clearly irked Bulls coach Darren Lehmann, who vented his frustration to the officials as the players left the field under a grey sky in Brisbane.
“Four-day cricket is not meant to be played in the dark under lights,” said Cowan, who rated the Shield final as intense as any of the four Test matches he had played in.
Fortunately for the Bulls, they have time on their side, needing only a draw to claim their first Shield title since 2005-06, but a result is almost certain on Monday.
Hartley and skipper James Hopes are the only surviving members from that triumph and they, along with Test quick Ryan Harris (2-35), played key roles on Sunday as the Tigers slumped to 5-87.
Bulls captain Hopes (2-47) claimed the prized scalp of former Test captain Ricky Ponting (6), while Hartley rescued the home side with a gutsy 111 in difficult batting conditions, especially against the new ball.
It was Hartley’s first Shield century in more than two years and it could not have come at a better time for the Bulls, who were reeling at 5-55 in the second session on Saturday.
“It was one of the best hundreds I’ve seen in a Shield final,” Lehmann told Fox Sports.
Steve Magoffin, despite suffering a back strain, chipped in with a valuable 31 in a 97-run partnership with Hartley as the Bulls were dismissed in their first innings for 276 to hold a handy 35-run lead.
Cowan believed the Bulls could crumble under pressure if they were forced to chase any total over 150 on Monday.
“To chase runs in a Sheffield Shield final, as we found out last year, is nerve-racking – it’s gut-wrenching,” he said.
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realise that Cowan is the only real stumbling block to the Bulls winning their seventh Shield title.
“I guarantee our bowlers will be gunning to get them for less than 150 tomorrow and I think if we can knock Cowan over, we’re a big shot of doing that,” Hartley said.
