Queensland has staged an heroic fightback against New South Wales late on the third day of the teams' Pura Cup match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground, ending the day on 4/154 in its second innings after earlier being 4/57 and in distinct danger of suffering an innings defeat.

Captain Stuart Law (58*) combined with debutant Brendan Nash (36*) to construct a solid partnership of ninety-eight runs in the latter stages of the afternoon, dashing any hopes New South Wales had of despatching the Bulls in short time. Queensland trailed, instead, by only sixty-eight runs overall by stumps.

Earlier in the day, New South Wales was the team again in control, unleashing an in-form Nathan Bracken (4/44) on the Bulls, leaving them unable to avert the follow-on as they crumbled to be all out for 276 before tea. In Bracken's twenty-one overs, he demonstrated the composure and confidence that he has probably gained from his recent international call-up and clearly exhibited some of the ruthless characteristics inherent in the national side.

The morning session was characterised by the Bulls' unsuccessful efforts to try and build a meaningful partnership; just as they seemed to be getting into a rhythm, their work would be routed by an efficient Blues bowler.

New South Wales off spinner Anthony Clark opened the day well and continued the good form he found in the closing overs yesterday, targeting the key wicket of skipper Stuart Law. It wasn't till the fifty-first over, New South Wales gained the break they were looking for, when captain Law (27) was stumped after stumbling out of his crease attempting a sweep at a wide ball from Clark.

It was an unfortunate mistake, but even more difficult to believe was Law's fit of pique at being given out by Umpire Hair. On his way back to the pavilion, he crashed out the middle stump with his bat, but has been fortunate to escape without penalty on this occasion.

Coming back from lunch, Queensland was 6/222 with Andrew Bichel (18) and Wade Seccombe (27) charged with the task of guiding their team out of danger. Bichel failed to help hold the lower order together, though, and was sent back to the pavilion by Bracken with a slick yorker that bounced off his foot and onto the bails in the ninety-seventh over. Seccombe fell just four overs later, another victim of Bracken's precise line and length.

Another three overs and Adam Dale (10) was taken, caught by Michael Bevan off the bowling of MacGill. And just one further over on came the end of the innings when Joe Dawes (4) went for four runs, also the prey of an unstoppable Bracken.

If Bracken (0/18) was the wrecker of the first innings, then Mark Higgs (2/20) has become the terror of the second after claiming two wickets in rapid succession to consign Queensland to potential disaster at a scoreline of 4/57 by the fifteenth over of the innings.

The two spin bowlers, Higgs and Clark (2/19), have worked superbly in tandem, maintaining an excellent attack with Clark's right arm off spin complementing Higgs' left arm wrist spin. A wearing pitch has certainly helped them, serving up the possibility of some amazing turn on deliveries at times. For the fifteen overs that they bowled together, Clark and Higgs certainly made the most of the conditions.

Queensland had begun the second innings needing to play with greater resolve and, by as early as the fifth over, matters looked encouraging. Openers Jerry Cassell and Jimmy Maher were in sparkling touch and rapidly took the score beyond thirty during this period.

When Maher (21) was given out caught behind in the eleventh over - to a rather questionable call by Umpire Brandon - the Bulls were 1/51. Maher was moving forward and trying to sweep the ball but seemed to miss it entirely. It appeared to come off the pad, and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin caught it and initially made an attempt at a stumping. But, after a few seconds' thought, he then changed course to join in on an appeal from other fieldsmen stationed around the bat for a caught behind verdict. Maher was not happy about the decision and television replays showed why.

Just four overs later, Clark claimed his second scalp for the innings when Cassell (31) was caught by Higgs, standing at silly mid off. Higgs then took the ball at the other end and promptly claimed Martin Love (2) and Andrew Symonds (0) within the space of an over, leaving the Bulls in a very tight spot at 4/57.

It was then that Law and Love came to the rescue, albeit that the Bulls are still far from out of the woods yet. Particularly as they still need those extra sixty-eight runs to force New South Wales to bat again.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd