Queensland has strengthened its chances of hosting a second Pura Cup Final in succession by coasting to an important outright victory over Western Australia in the teams' match here at the 'Gabba this afternoon. The eight wicket success, which arrived shortly after lunch on the third day, has allowed the Bulls - temporarily at least - to skip away to an eight point break at the top of the Cup table with just two rounds of matches left to play.

After starting the day with a lead of 113 runs and with only three second innings wickets still in hand, the Warriors' tailenders went out in an attempt to build a competitive target for the Bulls to chase. However, the Western Australians added only another twenty-one runs. Paceman Andy Bichel claimed two of the final three wickets to fall, and returned the impressive figures of 5/74 in the process. Adam Dale (3/56) was the morning's other Queensland wicket-taker.

With only a small target to chase, Bulls openers' Jimmy Maher (59) and Jerry Cassell (27) looked to wrap things up in quick time. In aggressive style, they posted an eighty-one run partnership prior to lunch before Cassell fell to the spin of Brad Oldroyd.

Following the lunch break, Andrew Symonds was given a promotion in the batting line-up and came in at number three. The first and third balls of the first over after lunch were sent sailing into the 'Gabba grandstands off his bat; another three boundaries came from the next Oldroyd over; and then a further six was struck in the following over to ensure that the Bulls' win was secured the mere matter of twenty-five minutes after the resumption.

Maher, while quite obviously scoring more slowly, continued to play well at the other end on his way to an impressive half century.

Oldroyd had gone into lunch with the figures of 1/0. However, he might now wish that he had stayed in the dining room because, when he returned to the middle, the Symonds and Maher onslaught blew his figures out to 1/42 off the only five overs that he bowled for the match.

Matthew Nicholson (1/25) eventually exacted a small measure when he claimed Maher's wicket with only two runs required for victory.

The winning runs were, however, duly polished off quickly to give the Bulls what is now an eight point break over second-placed Victoria and a twelve point lead over third-placed New South Wales.

But, whilst the Queenslanders will likely head into their upcoming road trips to both South Australia and New South Wales brimming with confidence, their captain Stuart Law warned that his side needs to guard against complacency.

"The side is aware of the fact that a Final is possibly around the corner but it has been a long, hard season and we've worked hard to get in this position. It would be a tragedy if we started having a hiccup now," he said after play.

"The hard work begins now for us, especially with these games in Sydney and Adelaide which are vitally important."

"The match in Sydney will be (especially) tough. We have to dig deep there; the pitch will be a dust bowl and we have to be ready for it."

Warriors' captain Tom Moody later refused to concede that his team (which is now as many as eighteen points behind today's opponent) was out of the Pura Cup race. But it was another disappointing day overall for the Warriors and for Moody himself given that it was his last-ever match in Brisbane.

Western Australia's double losses here this week - today's heavy defeat was preceded by a 65 run drubbing in a Mercantile Mutual Cup match - could probably not have come at a worse time, with the one-day Final approaching next weekend.

Moody was adamant, however, that his team will have salved any mental and physical scars by the time that it takes the field in that match - against New South Wales in Perth on Sunday.

"I don't think it will affect our focus," he argued.

"Ideally, we came up here to get a roll in both the one-day and four day matches, and this may well come as a timely kick up the backside."

"It lets us know where we stand: we have a lot of good players who we need to get going."

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