Copeland five-for gives NSW day-one honours
Joe Burns makes 97 on his return from a serious groin injury
Alex Malcolm
14-Mar-2018
New South Wales 0 for 41 trail Queensland 243 (Burns 97, Neser 55, Copeland 5-74) by 202 runs
Trent Copeland's second straight five wicket-haul has given New South Wales the honours on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland in Wollongong.
Copeland ran through the Bulls' top order, taking five of the first six wickets to leave the visitors struggling at 6 for 117. But Joe Burns stood firm on his return from a serious groin injury.
Burns and Michael Neser combined to lift the Bulls out of the mire. Burns was out for 97 while Neser made 55 to help post a first-innings total of 243.
Blues openers Nick Larkin and Daniel Hughes took the home side safely through to stumps, giving them a chance to post a big first-innings lead on day two.
Alex Malcolm is a freelance writer based in Perth