Bracken scythes through Queensland

Queensland 6 for 282 (Simpson 71, Love 52, Nye 59*, Bracken 3-42) v New South Wales
Scorecard

Nathan Bracken rattled Queensland just after tea © Getty Images

Australia's loss has been New South Wales's gain. Nathan Bracken, not wanted by the Test selectors for the tour of Sri Lanka, ripped through Queensland's middle order on the first day of the Pura Cup match at the SCG, taking 3 for 1 in 24 balls, including the prized scalp of Martin Love, to keep New South Wales's title defence alive.

But the patched-up Queensland team, forced to rush Damien McKenzie onto a flight from Brisbane to Sydney when Ashley Noffke was a late withdrawal with an ankle injury, refused to surrender, reaching 6 for 282 at stumps as Aaron Nye made an unbeaten 59 on debut.

"It's interesting at the moment, pretty evenly poised," said Bracken. "We've just got to get out there tomorrow and if we bowl well for an hour, we can do some serious damage and hopefully finish them off quickly."

Bracken was untouchable after tea. It must have been something he ate. Starting the final session wicketless with Queensland travelling relatively comfortably at 3 for 181, Bracken claimed the vital wicket of Love for 52, trapped James Hopes lbw for 8, and had Chris Hartley caught by Michael Clarke at third slip for a duck as the Bulls staggered to 6 for 202.

Hundreds of schoolchildren, on hand to watch Steve and Mark Waugh's last game at the SCG, had just gone home. They contributed to a crowd of 2409 - about 2000 more than normal for a day at the Pura Cup. Steve Waugh - who would have expected to roll Queensland over before stumps after sending them in - bowled the last over as the crowd in the Noble Stand sang "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow".

Bracken's burst, combined with Matthew Nicholson (2 for 68) getting rid of the prolific Stuart Law for just 10 and Glenn McGrath's miserly effort of 0 for 26 from 17 overs, gave NSW every chance to pull off the outright win both sides require to sneak into the Pura Cup final. To get there, NSW or Queensland also need Tasmania to go pointless against Victoria at Hobart.

New South Wales could have done without a late 80-run partnership between Nye and Andy Bichel (46*). "We were in a position where we had the opportunity to go through them but they dug their heels in," said Bracken, who finished with 3 for 42 from 17 overs. "We were looking at 350 as being the par score for the day, so we're happy."

Dominic Thornely took 12th-man duties to new heights. Squeezed out of the starting XI, he grabbed two vital catches - one of them a blinder, the other just plain difficult - to send Love and Law back to the pavilion. Having only taken the field because Adrian Tucker needed treatment for a finger injury, Thornely dived full-length to his left at square leg to catch Law, before accepting a lofted pull-shot from Love as he ran in the opposite direction to the pitch at midwicket. They were big breakthroughs - Law is Queensland's highest alltime runscorer, and Love is sixth on the list.

The New South Wales camp denied they were keeping close tabs on Tasmania's progress against the Vics. "We're 100% on this one here," said Bracken. "If we don't get six points [by winning outright], there's no point even worrying about that game."