Queensland are batting for survival in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at the Gabba on Sunday despite a fighting stand by Luke Pomersbach and Nathan Reardon.
Set 307 to win, the Bulls fought back from 4-8 to be 4-88 at tea on the final day with Pomersbach not out 45 and Reardon unbeaten on 40.
Ex-Test seamer Ben Hilfenhaus again gave the Bulls a scare as Queensland at one stage lost 3-0.
In the Bulls’ first innings dig of 281, he was on a hat-trick as he took three wickets in four balls before finishing with 4-84.
And he was at it again on Sunday.
Dom Michael and Peter Forrest completed a pair for the match when they were again claimed by Hilfenhaus (2-17 off 10 overs) in consecutive balls as Queensland slumped to 3-8.
Adding further insult, former Australian one-day batsman Forrest trudged off with a rare golden pair to his name.
And alarm bells were ringing when first-innings centurion Joe Burns was run out at the non-striker’s end for a duck in a mix-up with Pomersbach without adding further to the score.
But instead of panicking, Pomersbach and Reardon played their shots.
Leading Big Bash League Twenty20 run-scorer Pomersbach thumped two fours and a six while Reardon stroked five boundaries to guide Queensland safely to tea.
They need 219 runs to win off 38 overs in the final session but survival will be Queensland’s first priority.
Earlier, the Tigers declared their second innings at 6-342 with James Faulkner not out 52 and Tim Paine unbeaten on 37.
Tasmania resumed on Sunday at 4-226 and quickly lost Alex Doolan (83) and Jon Wells (52) who shared a 92-run fifth-wicket stand.
The Tigers are playing for their season at the Gabba, needing outright wins in their final two games to remain in the Shield final mix.
Third-placed Queensland – the defending Shield champions – have already collected first-innings points at the Gabba but can improve their final chances with a six-point victory.