New Zealand struggles against QAS

Queensland's fringe batsmen made New Zealand's bowlers sweat out a tough morning in the three-day tour match at Allan Border Field today.

At lunch on the second day, the QAS was 3-194 in its first innings, with captain Jerry Cassell on 84 and Lee Carseldine on 35.

The Black Caps had a strong attack, with Chris Cairns (1-61), Dion Nash (0-31) and Daryl Tuffey (1-54), but it was clear they would have to bowl much better to compete with Australia when the Test series begins at the Gabba on Thursday week.

They were pasted across picturesque Border Field today by Cassell and rookie Michael Sippel (58), who has yet to be mentioned as a candidate for Queensland's top team.

Cassell was a first-class regular last season and he batted well in a 117-run stand with Sippel, who put Tuffey over the square leg fence before he was bowled by Craig McMillan (1-13).

Cassell smashed Glen Sulzberger over the long-on fence, forcing the off-spinner out of the attack after he conceded 28 runs from three overs.

Fellow spinner Paul Wiseman has yet to be given the ball but captain Stephen Fleming needs the 31-year-old to bowl tightly, otherwise the Black Caps could enter the Tests without a serious spinning candidate.

Cairns conceded 13 boundaries in his 14 overs while Tuffey was hit for 43 runs from his nine overs today.

After the first day was restricted to just 12 overs because of rain, the QAS belted 174 runs from 35 overs today - a rate of five runs per over.