At the conclusion of a very slow day three of the Pura Cup match between South Australia and Queensland, the game is interestingly poised. The Redbacks simply have to survive until stumps tomorrow to get away with a draw - while Queensland needs just eight wickets for an all-important outright victory.

Surprisingly, after glorious stroke play from both Clinton Perren (112) and Stuart Law (161) yesterday, today provided a strange contrast - Law and overnight partner Wade Seccombe (7) seemed more than content to just bat through the first session with little aggression. So noticeable was this trend, in fact, that - although Queensland had entered the day in a powerful position with an eighty-four run lead and five first innings wickets still in hand - the first hour produced only fourteen runs.

The SA bowling was of a reasonable line and length early. But not once did the attack genuinely trouble the batsmen, or appear to have that 'spark' that it would have needed to work the Redbacks back into this game.

Even after leg spinner Peter McIntyre (3/139) finally engineered the opening breakthrough of the day - as Seccombe shuffled across his crease to be lbw - the Redbacks' lot didn't improve all that much. Andy Bichel (61) strode to the crease and continued the trend of laboured progress with his captain.

Law continued to rack up the milestones nonetheless - the first after lunch being his attainment of his 150, a milestone which arrived from 270 deliveries.

It wasn't until paceman Paul Rofe (2/69) was reintroduced exactly halfway into the day that a break in the stifling pattern finally occurred. Law (161) lost patience, fished for a ball outside the line of off stump and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Graham Manou.

Any suggestion of Queensland upping the ante would have been sorely incorrect, though. Bichel continued the slow pace of the game, reaching his fifty but doing so from as many as 105 balls, and including just three boundaries in his tally.

Ironically, he eventually lost his wicket precisely one delivery after producing a rare show of aggression to smash a huge six off McIntyre. He then pushed forward and aimed a defensive shot at a leg break, only to have Shane Deitz clutch an excellent low diving catch as he intercepted an outside edge at slip.

Adam Dale (45*) and Scott O'Leary (19) took the Bulls to a score of 9/475 - and a lead of 260 runs - before the declaration was finally made just beyond tea.

The second innings started off well enough for South Australia, the two openers looking comfortable against the bowling of Dale and Joe Dawes, happy to play each delivery on its merits, with no risks taken. Yet, as has been the case right throughout this match, almost as soon as the Redbacks appear to be playing in controlled fashion, disaster strikes. This time, woe came in the form of two quick dismissals: Luke Williams (12) trapped lbw by Dale, and then Deitz (32) falling to a caught behind decision off the bowling of Andrew Symonds.

Whether it was to do with team balance, an injury, or another reason altogether, it was bemusing to see the in-form Greg Blewett not taking his normal position at number three, with Mike Smith coming in at first drop, followed by Darren Lehmann.

Nonetheless, the move worked to an extent; the two managed to survive until stumps, Lehmann on 8 and Smith on 7 and the side 198 in arrears.

Their patient defiance put the seal on a long and somewhat unsatisfactory day not only for the spectators but also for the Redbacks themselves. Especially worrying for the home side was the notion that their bowlers were again largely unable to threaten the Queensland batsmen to make things happen.

Obviously, their batsmen will need to show more resolve tomorrow if the team is to find any kind of way of averting outright defeat. If the match continues in anything like its current vein, Queensland is odds on to take full points.

And, just to make matters worse for coach Greg Chappell and his team, it's worth noting that Bichel was rested for the whole of the Redbacks' second innings today. Almost undoubtedly, he will be fresh and raring to have a crack at the Redbacks line-up when things resume.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd