Lynn, Townsend steer Bulls on slow day

Queensland 7 for 212 (Lynn 57*, Townsend 54) v Western Australia
Scorecard

Wade Townsend and Chris Lynn both scored half-centuries on a day of excruciatingly slow progress for Queensland at the Gabba. The Bulls are well clear at the top of the Sheffield Shield table and it appeared they wanted to take no risks against the second-placed Warriors, crawling to 3 for 105 at tea on the first day before they moved along to 7 for 212 at stumps.

Lynn was at the crease on 57, having brought up his half-century in the second-last over of the day with a six over long-off from the part-time spin of Adam Voges. It was all the more galling for Voges as he had dropped Lynn in the previous over off Michael Beer. At stumps, Lynn was accompanied by Cameron Boyce, who was on 7.

But by picking up four wickets in the final session the Warriors finished the day with some encouraging signs. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Rimmington each picked up two wickets and Michael Hogan grabbed one, his victim Michael Neser, who chipped in with a handy 38 in the lower order.

Townsend made 54 from 190 deliveries and it was slow going during all of the top-order partnerships. Eventually he fell to the bowling of Marsh and the scoring rate picked up slightly, but so did the wicket tally. But with Lynn still in at the close of play, Queensland were hoping to add some handy runs to their total on the second morning.