Western Australia are well on top of their crucial Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground, bowling out Queensland for just 164 on Friday in less than two sessions.
Both teams need to win the match to be a chance of making the Shield final and, despite not yet being at tea on what is effectively day one of a three-day match, it is WA who look the only side in the running.
It will take a big effort from Queensland’s bowlers to revive their Shield hopes after Burt Cockley led the way with the ball for WA taking four wickets, as only Luke Pomersbach offered much fight with 57 against his former side before the Bulls were all out.
After the opening day was washed out due to rain, the game started on the morning of day two with WA captain Adam Voges having no hesitation electing to bowl first after he won the toss.
Greg Moller made a solid start for the Bulls opening the batting and making 14 before he became the first wicket to fall when caught at slip by Michael Hussey off the bowling of Cockley.
Peter Forrest has had a horror run of late with the bat, failing to score in his past three innings, and he was lucky to get off the mark again when he was dropped at slip by Mitch Marsh second ball.
It didn’t prove too costly as he was the next wicket to fall for just eight when caught behind by Sam Whiteman off Michael Hogan.
Queensland were 2-41 and then 3-58 when Nathan Reardon came and went for seven.
Pomersbach was looking good, though, and brought up his half-century with a six over the sightscreen off teenage left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.
However, shortly after, he was trapped in front by Ryan Duffield for 57 with Queensland 4-113 at the break with Joe Burns and Chris Hartley surviving to lunch.
The interval halted Burns’ momentum and he fell in the second over back for 25 caught by Voges at first slip off Ryan Duffield.
Queensland then kept losing wickets cheaply with Hartley making just six, James Hopes 12, Michael Neser six, Nathan Hauritz 11 and Ryan Harris 15.
Cockley continued his strong form since returning from career-threatening knee injuries to finish with 4-50 while Duffield took 2-53, Hogan 2-18 and Marsh 2-23.