South Australian strokeplayer Tom Cooper cracked an unbeaten 165 against Queensland on day one of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.
The Redbacks were 4-294 at stumps on Wednesday’s opening day, with captain Johan Botha not out 59.
The pair rescued SA with an unbroken 193-run partnership against a Bulls side weakened by injury and illness.
Queensland summoned Papua New Guineans as substitute fielders after captain James Hopes, wicketkeeper Chris Hartley and paceman Ben Cutting were all nobbled.
Hopes was a late withdrawal with a stomach illness and was replaced as captain by Hartley – but he was forced from the field in the middle session with similar stomach complaints.
And Cutting bowled just four overs before injuring a finger, not returning after leaving the field just after lunch.
Having sent only 12 players to Adelaide, the Bulls called on emergency fielders from Papua New Guinea’s team, known as the Barramundis, who are in the SA capital for a training camp.
Cooper made the most of Queensland’s misfortunes, scoring more runs on Wednesday than he did in a dismal last season when he was dumped from SA’s Shield team.
The elegant right-hander smacked 18 fours and six sixes and combined with Botha to steer the Redbacks from a precarious 4-101.
Opener Michael Klinger was out for three, emerging batsmen Travis Head (33) and Sam Raphael (25) fell when well-set, and debutant Kelvin Smith made just one in a match played at beachside suburban Glenelg Oval, due to ongoing redevelopments of Adelaide Oval.
Bulls paceman Luke Feldman took two wickets while Test spearhead Ryan Harris was impressive, taking 1-27 from 15 overs in his first long-form game since tearing a hamstring on Ashes duties two months ago.