Love ton puts Queensland on top

New South Wales 169 and 63 for 1 trail Queensland 456 (Love 116, Bichel 65, Doran 61) by 224 runs
Scorecard

New South Wales' campaign to retain the Pura Cup title hit a big hurdle today as Queensland piled up a huge 287-run first-innings lead. Martin Love's 116 and half-centuries from Andy Bichel and Daniel Doran saw Queensland amass a mammoth 456 before Phil Jacques steered NSW to 1 for 63 by close of play on the second day at Brisbane. NSW will now have to bat out of their skins in the remaining two days to escape an outright defeat.

Love, resuming on 77, lost his overnight partner Clinton Perren to Stuart MacGill the very next ball after bringing up his century. Soon MacGill struck again, trapping Love and Grant Lambert removed the next man in, Chris Hartley, to reduce Queensland to 6 for 268. But Bichel shared in two fifty-plus partnerships with Brendon Nash (42) and Doran to keep NSW hopes at bay. MacGill and Lambert shared seven wickets between them but the Queensland tail wagged - the last two wickets added 48 - to extend the agony for NSW.

Jaques, who lost his opening partner Craig Simmons in the final over, guided NSW to stumps, remaining unbeaten on 37.