Warner scores brisk ton on 30th birthday

Queensland 6 for 330 dec and 1 for 51 need another 314 runs to beat New South Wales 7 for 327 dec and 7 for 367 dec (Warner 134, Cowan 95)
Scorecard

David Warner celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring a brisk century against Queensland at the Gabba, continuing his strong recent run of form ahead of the first Test against South Africa. Warner's hundred came up in 124 balls and he finished with 134 from 160 deliveries, including 16 fours, as New South Wales set the Bulls 365 for victory.

Before this match, two of Warner's three most recent innings had been centuries - 117 and 173 in ODIs against South Africa earlier this month. His hundred in the day-night Sheffield Shield clash also means that three of Australia's likely top four for the WACA Test - Warner, Shaun Marsh and Steven Smith - have reached triple figures in this Shield round.

Warner and Ed Cowan put on 230 for the opening wicket, a stand that ended when Cowan was caught off the part-time bowling of Charlie Hemphrey for 95. Warner fell to legspinner Mitch Swepson just a few overs later, his 23rd first-class century having come exactly a week before the Australians walk out against the South Africans in Perth.

Smith compiled 42 and Kurtis Patterson made 38, but the real damage had been done in the opening stand, and New South Wales were able to declare at 7 for 367, leaving Queensland 11 overs to bat before stumps. Hemphrey was bowled by Josh Hazlewood for 4, but Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja survived until the close of play, Burns on 29 and Khawaja on 12, with Queensland needing a further 314 to win.

Mitchell Starc, who was playing his first match back having had 30 stitches in his left shin following a sickening training accident in Sydney last month, was substituted out of the game on Thursday as Cricket Australia control his preparation for the first Test. Doug Bollinger came in to the side to replace Starc mid-match.