Time in the middle was needed by an out-of-form Shaun Marsh but it was another left-handed batsman who hogged the crease in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland on Monday.
Indeed Bulls opener Wade Townsend (54) took more than four hours to reach his half century as Queensland painstakingly moved to 7-212 off 96 overs by stumps on day one at the Gabba.
The stage was set for an intriguing battle with WA’s Marsh desperate to find form after a horror run for Australia and Bulls quick Ben Cutting returning to Shield cricket following a long injury layoff.
Marsh has been relegated to domestic cricket after four ducks in his past seven innings for Australia, including a second-ball dismissal in Friday night’s Twenty20 loss to India at the MCG.
And Cutting is also hoping to revive hopes of an Australian call-up after returning from a side strain suffered in December following a 12th man stint in the first Test against New Zealand.
But both were made to endure an agonising wait before trying to impress national selectors after Queensland moved at a snail’s pace on Monday.
There were just 24 scoring shots in the first session with just three fours – and Townsend didn’t find the fence until the 30th over.
Queensland were 1-46 off 31 overs by lunch and 3-105 at tea before Chris Lynn (57 not out off 134 balls) and Michael Neser (38 off 60) tried to break the shackles in the final session.
The Bulls had hit just seven fours by tea but Neser alone struck five fours and a six in a 51-run sixth-wicket stand with Lynn, who stroked seven fours and a six.
Lynn was dropped by Adam Voges off Michael Beer on 48 – then rubbed it in by reaching his half century by hitting Voges for six.
In contrast Townsend reached his 50 in 185 balls, hitting just two fours.
Five balls later he was caught by Shaun Marsh off brother Mitchell (2-25 off 17 overs), ending a knock that lasted 249 minutes.
Mitchell Marsh and ex-Bulls quick Nathan Rimmington (2-40 off 18) were the pick of the miserly WA attack.
The Bulls are on top of the Shield ladder with 30 points and can take another confident stride toward booking a final spot with success against second-placed WA (20 points).
