QUEENSLAND captain Jimmy Peirson has taken full toll after being dropped on nought to notch up his sixth first class century, against New South Wales yesterday. The gloveman entered the crease with his side reeling at 5-80, but pulled through to finish day two unbeaten on 115 with the Bulls still 39 runs in arrears.

Play was halted late yesterday due to bad light as Queensland closed in on parity with two wickets in hand. After the Blues posted 320 having been sent in for their first dig, things looked dire for the hosts on a tricky Gabba pitch. That was until Peirson picked up the tail and wagged it himself, sending the ball flying square on either side of the wicket with 13 boundaries.

Peirson will resume on day three at the opposite end to Mark Steketee (27), who along with Xavier Bartlett (32) chimed in with handy lower-order runs. The same cannot be said for Queensland’s top six, with only Max Bryant (40) making it past the 20-mark. He was bowled by Ben Dwarshuis due to an ill fated leave.

With two Queensland wickets left to roll, New South Wales spearhead Sean Abbott (3-63) will be chasing five-for, while Hayden Kerr (2-48) is the only other Blues bowler with multiple wickets. The visitors remain winless after seven Shield games, but can spoil Queensland’s hopes of snatching second with a breakthrough victory.

Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, Western Australia is in the box seat to bounce back from last week’s shock loss to South Australia. The Warriors are 223 runs in front of Tasmania at Blundstone Arena heading into day three, with nine wickets in hand. Cameron Bancroft (50) will restart alongside youngster Teague Wyllie (10) as the visitors look to consolidate their winning position.

After Tasmania resumed at 1-5 in response to WA’s 300 yesterday, alarm bells began to ring as the Tigers fell to 6-74. Allrounder Beau Webster (52) came in at eight and was the only batter to notch up a half-century, adding crucial runs alongside Jordan Silk (45). There was little resistance otherwise, as the Warriors rolled them for 169.

Western Australia, who sit clear atop the Sheffield Shield ladder, may well have Victoria to content with in this season’s final. The Vics secured an emphatic 177-run victory over South Australia yesterday, thanks largely to two counterattacking knocks from Matt Short.

The in-form allrounder peeled off his maiden first class century in Victoria’s second innings at Junction Oval, helping set the Redbacks a lofty 367 for victory. They fell well short, as 22-year-old quick Mitchell Perry took 5-64 to bring his match tally up to eight.

Victoria now sits second with one round left to play. South Australia is now a game behind, while Queensland and Tasmania will have to conjure some form in their ongoing matches to stand a chance of facing Western Australia in the final.