Love the answer for confident Queensland

New South Wales 210 and 0 for 27 trail Queensland 354 (Love 110, Kruger 78, Cockley 5-76) by 117 runs
Scorecard

Martin Love's first century in nearly two years helped Queensland set up a 144-run first-innings lead at the SCG despite a career-best 5 for 76 from the New South Wales fast bowler Burt Cockley. At stumps on the second day the Blues were 0 for 27 in their second innings, still trailing by 117 with Usman Khawaja on 14 and Phillip Hughes on 11.

The home team faced an uphill battle after conceding such a healthy advantage to the Bulls, whose main contributors were Love and Nick Kruger. The pair put on 152 for the second wicket and made New South Wales pay for putting both men down late on the first day - Kruger was reprieved on 30 and Love was given chances on 0 and 11.

Neither man had played Queensland's previous match and the two were keen to justify their inclusions, particularly Kruger, who was in his fourth first-class game since debuting six seasons ago. He struck 78 before becoming the second victim for Cockley, who trapped him lbw.

The veteran Love, who has been troubled by injuries in the past couple of seasons, proved he is still a class act and anchored Queensland's innings with 110 from 208 deliveries. Love eventually fell to Doug Bollinger, who collected 3 for 78 in his first match back since his Test tour of India.

But by the time the Blues got rid of Love the first-innings points were already gone, although they did well to stop any other batsmen posting half-centuries. However, they require a much more polished batting effort than in their first innings, when the only man to pass 40 was their No. 9 Beau Casson.