Queensland moved within 98 runs of hosting next week's Pura Cup final following another wicket-filled day's action at the Gabba - leaving the fate of 10,000 meat pies in the balance.

Queensland officials have already ordered 10,000 of the pies in anticipation of hosting the five-day final and with the Bulls on the verge of an outright win, they aren't cancelling the order.

At stumps on the second day of a bizarre match, Queensland was 1-66 with first-time captain Martin Love (34) and rookie opener Daniel Payne (16) negotiating 24 crucial overs.

Queensland returned to a difficult wicket at 6-64 and was mopped up for 107 with Will Carr claiming a career-best 6-46 and Mathew Inness (4-31) combining to collect all ten wickets.

The Bulls, aware they could miss out on playing in the Pura Cup final without winning outright, did an excellent job in restricting the Bushrangers to 122 in their second innings.

But scoring 164 runs on a mind-testing strip which had claimed 30 wickets for 377 runs in less than two days was going to be a hard task.

Alarm bells sounded when Queensland lost inexperienced opener Brendan Nash (11) with 17 runs on the board.

While Payne battled nerves and the early venom of Carr and Inness, Love calmly took control of the situation and at stumps had steered the Bulls into a position where they could sleep a lot sounder.

The wicket has played a part in so many wickets tumbling in two days, but poor shot-making has contributed as well on a deck that has been extremely difficult to master.

Take Darren Berry (41), who injured his hand batting, and Jonathon Moss (38) out of the equation and Victoria's second innings tally was 43.

Former Test speedster Michael Kasprowicz exploited the pitch early in Victoria's second innings and looked very dangerous while an impressive Ashley Noffke stepped in to mop up the tailenders.

Kasprowicz's reward was 3-37 off 16 tight overs while Noffke claimed the last four wickets for his 4-29.

Noffke, who removed Berry and Carr for a golden duck with successive deliveries, was denied a shot at a hat-trick with Victoria running out of batsmen.

If Queensland go on with job tomorrow they will host their third successive Pura Cup, having won both previously.

© 2002 AAP