BRISBANE, Oct 18 AAP - New South Wales dug in for the long haul towards first innings points against Queensland on the third day of the Pura Cup match at the Gabba today.

At tea, the Blues were 2-218 in their first innings - still trailing the Bulls by 289 runs in a match which needs a rush of wickets to have any chance of a result.

That won't happen if the match maintains a pattern which has yielded just two wickets in the last five sessions, but it hasn't been a batting paradise.

Matthew Phelps has taken 258 balls for his 80 not out, while Michael Clarke, who joined Phelps at the crease in the 37th over, was unbeaten on 75 at the break.

Michael Bevan was the only batsman out today when he was softened up by consecutive short balls from Michael Kasprowicz (1-45) before edging a pull shot from the next delivery to wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe.

Bevan failed to add to his overnight score of 23 despite facing 25 balls today.

Phelps and Clarke struggled for runs against some tight bowling, taking 16 runs from one 15-over stretch dominated by Bulls paceman Ashley Noffke (0-46), who went 44 deliveries without conceding a run.

But Clarke still showed why he is rated as one of the most promising batsmen in the country, playing some delightful shots mixed with some streaky swings as he tried to increase the run-rate.

© 2002 AAP

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