Queensland veteran Chris Hartley sparked a stunning Bulls revival with a superb century on Sunday morning in the entertaining Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania at the Gabba.

Under grey skies and in tough batting conditions, Hartley’s knock of 111 helped the Bulls overhaul the Tigers’ first innings total of 241.

The Bulls were dismissed for 276 – a lead of 35 runs – thanks mainly to keeper-batsman Hartley’s classy century, his first since February 2010 when he scored 112 against Tasmania in Hobart.

Tailender Steve Magoffin provided some stubborn resistance, scoring 31 in a critical 97-run partnership with Hartley, who was the last man dismissed when trapped lbw off the bowling of Jackson Bird (4-56).

It was a remarkable turnaround considering the Bulls had slumped to 5-55 in the second session on Saturday.

Bird and Luke Butterworth (4-51) were the pick of the Tigers’ bowlers while Brendan Drew (seven overs, 0-56) and former Test spinner Jason Krejza (0-42) had a session they’d rather forget.

The Bulls resumed play at 5-139, with the action starting half an hour earlier at 9.30am (AEST).

James Hopes was given a life on the third ball of the day when wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt dropped a sitter off Butterworth’s bowling.

But the Queensland skipper was gone in the following over, trapped lbw by Bird, who took his Shield season wicket tally to 50 with the crucial scalp.

The Bulls were in trouble at 6-144 after the 89-run partnership between Hartley and Hopes was broken.

Ryan Harris hit 18 runs off 33 balls before he edged a seaming ball to Triffitt.

But Hartley and Magoffin steadied the ship just when the Bulls needed a dose of composure.

Defending champions Tasmania wrapped up the tail on the stroke of lunch after taking the new ball.