Bichel gives Queensland the edge

Tasmania 8 for 190 (Wright 55*) trail Queensland 384 (Bichel 69, Griffith 5-109) by 376 runs
Scorecard

On a swelteringly hot day at Brisbane, Andy Bichel put Queensland in the box seat after cracking a half-century and snapping up two early wickets. After their first innings closed on 384, Tasmania had struggled to 8 for 190 in reply at the close.

Tasmania had only book-ended the day with good performances. In the morning they had taken three wickets for 29 runs to leave Queensland 9 for 339 at one point, before Queensland rallied to 384. Adam Griffith finished with 5 for 109 to share the bowling spoils with Damien Wright who had 3 for 111. Then in the final session, Wright's undefeated 55 to finally give some backbone to their reply. But the day belonged to Queensland, and to Bichel in particular.

He first helped Joe Dawes to add 45 for the tenth wicket, then kept Tasmania on a leash with a tight opening spell. After lunch he dismissed the in-form Michael Bevan, who had been given a let-off from James Hopes. Although Bichel was forced to leave the field twice after suffering heat exhaustion - the temperature stayed around 33 degrees at all day - the rest of Tasmanian top order failed to capitalise after making starts. Dawes had Rhett Lockyear and Dan Marsh, Tasmania's captain, leg-before to reduce them to 6 for 103, and a lead of 200 briefly looked on the cards.

However, Wright, at No. 8, held firm, shepherding the tail and Tasmania to a respectable score. He reached his half-century just before stumps, and will be the one to get tomorrow morning.