Tailender Ben Cutting has mounted another rescue mission for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

The fast bowler has top-scored in both innings, smacking 57 not out off 75 balls to lead the Bulls to a handy 146-run lead at stumps on day three at Bellerive.

Queensland had been in strife at 8-118, with a lead of just 63 before Cutting produced a carbon copy of his unbeaten 79 in the first innings to rescue the table-topping Bulls.

He brought up his half century with an enormous six, the third of his innings, launching a Brendan Drew delivery through midwicket and over one of the Bellerive grandstands.

When bad light ended play, Queensland were 9-201, Alister McDermott at the crease with Cutting on two not out.

For the second time in the match, Tasmania let the ladder leaders off the hook and they will now need to complete a tricky day-four chase to keep their hopes of a Shield defence on track.

With second-placed Western Australia looking certain to roll NSW, the Tigers need points to stay in touch with the top two.

Cutting, who had earlier finished with bowling figures of 3-73, made the rest of his side’s batsmen look ordinary and only stand-in skipper Chris Hartley offered any earlier resistance with a defiant 36.

Cutting and fellow quick Steve Magoffin (24) put on 66 for the eighth wicket before Magoffin was caught by Alex Doolan off the bowling of Drew (1-57) at 9-184.

Tasmanian pacemen Luke Butterworth (3-29) and Jackson Bird (3-37) destroyed the Bulls’ top order as the wicket continued to offer assistance to the bowlers on a day that lost more than two hours to rain.

Queensland’s wickets fell regularly after they had wrapped up Tasmania’s innings for 260 by taking 5-39 in the morning session, a lead of 55 for the home side.

Queensland quick Alister McDermott had earlier mopped up the Tasmanian tail, finishing with 3-48.