BRISBANE, Nov 15 AAP - Test paceman Andy Bichel pulled off the catch of the season at the Gabba and ripped the heart out of Tasmania's top order today to put Queensland in sight of its first Pura Cup outright win of the summer.

Bichel and stand-in captain Michael Kasprowicz, who featured in a vital 50-run eighth-wicket partnership after the Tigers roared briefly late in the first innings, had the visitors reeling at 4-9 in early in their second innings before rained stopped play with Tasmania in deep trouble at 4-42.

Queensland made 229 to take first innings points and Tasmania returned to the field 42 runs behind and with showers threatening.

It wasn't the lightning or the approaching storm which had the Tasmanians ducking for cover - Bichel's thunderbolts zapped the top order claiming opener Michael DiVenuto (0), Ricky Ponting (0) and Daniel Marsh (1) to a woeful shot.

Bichel stunned all with his caught-and-bowled to dismiss Ponting three balls after removing DiVenuto.

Ponting, who fell cheaply for seven in the first innings, attempted a half-hearted pull shot to a short delivery and skied the ball on the seemingly deserted leg side.

Bichel took off like Carl Lewis, sprinting 30 metres and diving full stretch to take a spectacular catch before being almost buried by excited teammates.

"They appreciate it, I haven't run that far to take a catch off my on bowling before," said Bichel, whose Test rival Brett Lee had taken seven wickets so far for NSW in the match in Sydney.

"I hope it's typical Queensland weather and it's hot and steamy and the balls swings around and makes it difficult as possible for the batsmen tomorrow."

At one stage Tasmania's second innings scorecard of 2-0-0-1-1-0 looked more like a telephone number to order a pizza.

How the Tigers would have loved the rain to have hit earlier to save them from cyclone Bichel.

Kasprowicz's dismissal of opener Jamie Cox (2) moved him to within one wicket of joining fast bowling great Jeff Thomson (327 wickets) as Queensland's second most successful four-day domestic bowler.

Earlier, Tasmania hauled back in the game when Ponting introduced Scott Kremerskothen into the attack and he claimed the wickets of Stuart Law (18) and Andrew Symonds (0) to have 2-0.

At that stage the Bulls slipped to to 4-122 and, when wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe (4) was the victim off a lucky run out as the ball deflected onto the stumps off bowler Shane Jurgensen's fingers and Bichel went for a duck, they were 7-173 and fighting for first innings points.

That's when Kasprowicz led like a captain, teaming with Perren (41) to steer the Bulls to the two points.

Kasprowicz's 26 -- after being twice put on his backside by bouncers from Shane Watson and also struck on the body -- equalled the number of runs he had scored for the Bulls last summer.

The rain arrived at 4.09pm (local time) with Tasmania at 4-42, but it was too late to put out Queensland's fire.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.