Queensland have made an encouraging start to their crunch Sheffield Shield clash with cellar dwellers South Australia at the Gabba.
At lunch on the opening day, the Redbacks have crawled to 3-62 after Queensland won the toss with Tom Cooper not out 10 and James Smith unbeaten on seven.
South Australia at one stage lost 2-2 thanks to quick thinking by Andrew Robinson and Cameron Boyce in the field.
First Robinson kept his head in a juggling effort in the slips to snaffle up Travis Head for 11 off Bulls skipper James Hopes (1-10 off six overs) to reduce the visitors to 2-44.
Next over Boyce’s sensational one hand diving catch in the gully off Ryan Harris (1-7 off nine) claimed the prize scalp of SA captain Michael Klinger for 19 and suddenly the Redbacks were 3-46.
Earlier, young gun Alister McDermott (1-15 off five) drew first blood by trapping Tom Stray (seven) in front.
Queensland have hardly seemed hampered by the loss of spearhead Ben Cutting (groin), bowling a tight line that ensured SA crawled to 50 in 99 minutes off 143 balls.
The Bulls must end a worrying slide and claim an outright win to give themselves a good shot at qualifying for the Shield final.
Queensland were leading the Shield table with 30 points before the Big Bash League Twenty20 competition in December but since the four-day game’s resumption have not picked up a single point.
Western Australia lead the table on 34 points ahead of Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria (all on 30).
Queensland will back themselves against the Redbacks who have just two points from nine games and are already assured the wooden spoon.