Queensland served up a cold slice of revenge to New South Wales today as the Bulls booked their third consecutive home Pura Cup cricket final here today.

Just 10 days after the Blues crushed Queensland in Sydney, the Bulls again proved masters of their domain when they wrapped up first-innings points inside the first day of an eventful match.

With swing bowler Adam Dale (5-37) and batsman Jimmy Maher (80 not out) tormenting the Blues, Queensland went to stumps at 4-165 in reply to the Blues' modest 140.

Queensland will host Victoria at the Gabba next Friday in a re-match of the combatants which fought out the inaugural Pura Cup final 12 months ago.

The Bulls only needed first-innings points from this match and they were untroubled from the moment Dale took the new ball in the absence of strike bowler Andy Bichel.

Bichel decided to rest a side strain and Dale took charge, snaring the first five wickets in 93 minutes before Joe Dawes (4-37) joined in the hunt.

The Blues were weakened by the loss of captain Shane Lee, who withdrew with a virus, forcing selectors to send an urgent call to batsman Phil Jaques. The 21-year-old eventually arrived two hours late for his first-class debut, racing from Brisbane airport to find the Blues in a mess.

They were 8-70 at lunch when Jaques arrived but the left-hander showed some fight, scoring 40 while sharing in a solid partnership with defiant No.3 Matthew Phelps (40).

The visitors didn't recover from the early onslaught when Greg Mail (five), Brad Haddin (four), Michael Clarke (two) and Mark Higgs (eight) beat a path to the change rooms.

The Blues were no better with the ball, squandering a perfect chance to put the Bulls on the rack when Higgs dropped Maher on four.

Higgs spilled a straight-forward catch at second slip and Maher made him pay, settling in for handy partnerships with Clinton Perren (28) and Lee Carseldine (26). Captain Stuart Law (four not out) saw the Bulls safely to stumps after Stuart MacGill chimed in with two wickets to gain some satisfaction from his first day as captain.

It was a tough assignment for MacGill, who outwitted Perren and Brendan Nash (12) to at least ensure the Bulls did not get off the leash.

Dale said Queensland had to wipe the slate clean ahead of the second day to ensure they went into the final on a winning note.

It was a day of milestones for the home team, with Dawes chalking up his 100th first-class wicket and wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe taking his 300th dismissal in domestic four-day cricket.

© 2001 AAP