South Australia charges to second with win over Bulls

Little-known South Australian cricketer Mike Smith left a battered Queensland questioning its Pura Cup chances after the Redbacks charged to an emphatic win at the Gabba today.

SA squeaked in with only 32 balls remaining on the final day but the nature of its nine-wicket win left a cloud over the Bulls' hopes of a third consecutive domestic title.

Smith took 7-98, including 4-0 to end his final spell, as the Redbacks blunted an outstanding 209 from Jimmy Maher in Queensland's second innings total of 370. Maher batted for eight hours trying to save the Bulls but his brave rescue mission ended as Smith sparked a fall of 8-100.

That left the Redbacks with 50 runs to win from 15 overs and they cruised to 1-51 with the loss of David Fitzgerald (10).

South Australia now sits second on the Pura Cup table with 20 points, two behind the Bulls and four in front of a traffic jam.

But Queensland's lead looks as thin as a cracker biscuit after the Bulls suffered three injuries out of their second consecutive loss.

Captain Stuart Law faces four weeks on the sideline with a broken finger while pacemen Michael Kasprowicz (hamstring) and Ashley Noffke (heel) could be out for a fortnight.

Add to that the likely departures of Matthew Hayden and Andrew Bichel to the Test tour of South Africa and the long-term shoulder injury to bowling lynchpin Adam Dale, and the Bulls are suddenly on shaky ground.

Law, who batted twice with his broken little finger, admitted Queensland's batsmen needed to lift in their last three matches.

The Bulls have scored 130, 101, 232 and 370 in their last four digs, with Martin Love, Hayden and Maher the only consistent scorers this summer.

Maher made Australian selectors take notice with his fluent double century, which promised to save Queensland before the lively Smith intervened.

With the clock ticking, the 28-year-old Smith unhinged Maher to a catch behind before crashing through the Bulls' tail.

He took man-of-the-match honours with figures of 9-138 and an unbeaten 40, enabling the Redbacks to become the first team to beat Queensland in Brisbane for almost three years.

Smith, who has played just eight first-class matches, said the Redbacks weren't worried about the clock even when Queensland reached 2-270.

"We always knew that we had the opportunity to rack a few wickets up and we knew that we were really close to it," Smith said.

"It worked out to the point that those who paid their dollars to watch today got good value for money."

The Queensland fans weren't smiling despite the gutsy effort of Smith, who has built a quality reputation in Adelaide grade cricket.

He featured in a marathon bowling stint as the Redbacks sent down 212 consecutive overs during Queensland's two innings.

SA has snatched maximum points from its last two matches, greasing its engines for home matches against Queensland and Tasmania before a trip to Western Australia in the last round.