Unlikely destroyer Evan Gulbis helped Tasmania tighten their grip on the Sheffield Shield title with four key wickets as Queensland were bowled out for 225 in their first innings early on day four at Bellerive.

Gulbis snared 4-62 as the Bulls narrowly avoided the follow-on but were dismissed 194 behind the home’s side’s 419.

The 27-year-old former Victorian, playing his seventh Shield match, is fast becoming the Tigers’ dead pitch specialist with his skidding medium pacers.

He dismissed top-scorer Peter Forrest for 56 on day three to have Queensland’s title defence in serious trouble and began the rot on Monday with the wicket of Nathan Hauritz (16).

Resuming at 7-185, the Bulls lost 3-40 within an hour.

Tasmania are likely to try to pile up an insurmountable target, and soak up precious time, as they eye a first piece of state-cricket silverware for champion Ricky Ponting.

An up-and-down pitch won’t help but the Bulls will need little short of a bowling miracle to get themselves back into the decider.

Hauritz (16) spooned a straight-forward caught-and-bowled back to Gulbis at 8-207.

James Faulkner (3-40) then had Ryan Harris out lbw for a second-ball duck with a delivery that cut back at 9-210.

Bulls skipper James Hopes (36) was last man out, bowled by a Faulkner slower ball.