Rogers keeps Warriors in control

John Rogers and the Western Australia lower order put the Warriors in a strong position to push for victory against Queensland at the Gabba, where the Bulls finished day three needing another 352 runs with eight wickets in hand. Set 440 for victory, Queensland were 2 for 88 at the close of play, with Greg Moller on 48 and Peter Forrest on 11.

Already they had lost Luke Pomersbach to Nathan Coulter-Nile for 6 and Joe Burns, the newly-named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, caught off the bowling of spinner Ashton Agar for 22. The breakthroughs left the Bulls at 2 for 66 and it was hardly the start they needed after they let Western Australia's last four partnerships add 256 runs in the second innings.

Rogers, a journeyman whose career has taken him from Canberra to Hobart to Perth, scored 89 in his third first-class match and missed the chance for a century when he was caught behind off the bowling of Matthew Gale, who took 4 for 109. Rogers had put on 123 for the seventh wicket with the wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman, who made 51.

But the problems for Queensland continued as Coulter-Nile chipped in with 32 and then the final-wicket pair, Agar and Michael Hogan built a 94-run partnership. Agar, who will head to India with Australia's Test squad to gain experience, scored his maiden first-class fifty and was the last man out for 53, while Hogan made a career-best 43 not out.