MacKenzie inspires Bulls to points against NSW

BRISBANE, Oct 19 AAP - Rookie quick Damien MacKenzie became Queensland's unlikely hero against NSW today as the Bulls snatched valuable first-innings points in a tense Pura Cup clash at the Gabba.

The match finished in a draw, but that result had been apparent since the third day when the main prize centred on the dogfight for first innings points.

MacKenzie, who admitted he "didn't deserve to bowl" yesterday, broke the back of the Blues with three quick wickets as they were rolled for 443 in reply to Queensland's 5-507 declared.

The Bulls then made the most of batting practice in sapping heat to reach 1-216 in their second innings when the captains agreed to an early finish, with Brendan Nash following his 176 with an unbeaten 81.

Jimmy Maher (60) and Martin Love (56 not out) joined in the runs as both teams conserved some energy for tomorrow's ING Cup one-day match at the Gabba.

The day promised more for the Blues and they looked likely to take some rare points from Brisbane when they crept to 5-405 on a morning with temperatures soaring past 30 degrees.

But MacKenzie (3-98), who wasn't bowled during yesterday's final session because of a wayward spell, claimed the wickets of Brad Haddin (23), captain Simon Katich (43) and Stuart MacGill (zero) in 19 balls to leave the Blues in deep trouble.

The 22-year-old enticed Haddin into a careless catch to Andrew Symonds at deep point before Katich, who thumped consecutive boundaries off MacKenzie, chipped a slower ball to Maher at short cover.

When MacGill was trapped LBW with the very next ball, NSW was gone and MacKenzie had redeemed himself despite conceding 48 runs from his seven overs today.

"It's been a mixed two days for me and I probably didn't deserve to bowl yesterday after the way they came out," MacKenzie said.

"But I just tried to relax today and the ball was starting to go a bit Irish (reverse swing) and I was starting to get it fairly straight."

MacKenzie's breakthroughs were the first real triumphs for the bowlers in a match dominated by the batsmen, including Nash, Lee Carseldine (124 not out) and NSW pair Matthew Phelps (147) and Michael Clarke (134).

Phelps' innings ran over three days before finally coming to a halt early today when he provided a regulation edge to wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe from the bowling of impressive quick Ashley Noffke (2-90 from 39 overs).

Haddin then ignited the slow tempo with 23 from 26 balls, including five boundaries, before he went for one aggressive shot too many.

While Queensland reflected on a tough but satisfying start to its chase for a fourth consecutive Pura Cup crown, the Blues would also be happy with some of the positive points to emerge from the match.

They had been easybeats in some previous visits to the Gabba but the likes of Phelps and Clarke showed encouraging fight under new captain Simon Katich, who endured a trying time in the field against the Bulls batsmen.

NSW quick Doug Bollinger (0-96 and 0-55) deserved a wicket during an encouraging debut, bowling Nash today with a no ball.

The diminutive Queenslander had scored just eight when Bollinger took his off bail, only to watch the ball race to the boundary.