Three wickets in four balls by ex-Test seamer Ben Hilfenhaus has ensured Queensland are battling for survival in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at the Gabba on Friday.

At lunch on day two, the Bulls are 4-61 in reply to the Tigers’ 245 first innings dig after a stunning one-over burst by Hilfenhaus (3-15) in which Queensland lost 3-0.

Hilfenhaus has not been sighted in the Test team since breaking down with a side strain in the Hobart Test against Sri Lanka in December.

But he produced a performance worthy of a baggy green as he exploited overcast conditions to tear the heart out of Queensland’s top order.

The carnage started when Hilfenhaus trapped opener Greg Moller (nine) in front before Dom Michael played on two balls later.

Hilfenhaus was on a hat-trick when Peter Forrest was caught next ball at third slip, reducing a shellshocked Queensland to 3-18.

Joe Burns (17 not out) survived the hat-trick ball but Tasmania soon struck again.

The Bulls were reeling at 4-30 when Luke Pomersbach (16) was caught smartly by Tigers captain George Bailey at square leg off James Faulkner (1-9).

Burns and Nathan Reardon (19 not out) steered Queensland to lunch with an unbeaten 31-run stand.

Earlier, Cameron Gannon (2-38) needed just nine balls to clean up the tail after the Tigers resumed at 8-236.

Tasmania had recovered from 5-90 after a Ryan Harris-inspired collapse of 3-2 on Thursday to post a competitive first innings total.

Jon Wells (82) – dropped on seven – and ex-Test keeper Tim Paine (42) dug the Tigers out of trouble on Thursday with a 97-run sixth wicket stand.

Injury plagued ex-Test paceman Harris finished with 3-85 off 26 overs in his first first-class match since Australia’s tour of the West Indies last April.