Debutant Clayton holds Queensland batting together with unbeaten 72

Quick Scott Boland produced a typically miserly bowling performance as he tuned up for Australia's tour of Pakistan during a grinding opening day in the Sheffield Shield game between Victoria and Queensland at the Junction Oval.

Boland, who became a sensation during the Ashes after a remarkable start to his Test career, finished wicketless but conjured his famed disciplined line and length to frustrate Queensland, who reached stumps at 6 for 221. Debutant Jack Clayton held Bulls' batting together with a determined 72 not out from 179 balls at No. 4.

After starting with three maidens, Boland had just three deliveries scored off during his first 11 overs and finished with 0 for 24 from 19 overs. He was engaged in the second session in an absorbing duel with Matt Renshaw, who was the most fluent of the Bulls batters with 43 off 78 balls before falling on the stroke of tea.

Queensland struggled against Victoria's relentless attack as they crawled at two runs an over for most of the day after winning the toss. Openers Joe Burns (22) and Bryce Street batted cautiously during a rain-curtailed opening session to set the tone for the Bulls.

Burns was bowled by young quick Mitch Perry without offering a shot, while Street fell lbw to pumped-up James Pattinson to end his laborious 23 off 98 balls.

Queensland nosedived after the tea break marked by a sloppy run out to skipper Jimmy Peirson for a duck to slump to 5 for 157. Left-handed batter Clayton found much-needed support through Gurinder Sandhu (19) before the No. 7 fell to seamer Will Sutherland against the second new ball.

Young allrounder Sutherland, who struggled in the BBL, conjured sharp pace and bounce in a lively performance to finish with 1 for 54 from 15 overs.

The Bulls line-up boasts of Test squad members Mitch Swepson and quick Mark Steketee, who on Wednesday replaced injured team-mate Michael Neser in Australia's 18-man travelling party.