BRISBANE, Oct 19 AAP - Queensland captain Jimmy Maher tucked into the New South Wales bowling attack as the Pura Cup match headed for a draw at the Gabba today.

At tea on the final day, the Bulls were 1-114 in their second innings - a lead of 178 - with Maher hitting 60 from 71 balls before he was caught at first slip by Simon Katich off the bowling of Nathan Bracken (1-9).

Maher raced to his half-century with nine consecutive fours before Bracken found a regulation edge.

Brendan Nash, following his 176 in the first innings, was unbeaten on 35 with Martin Love on six.

Blues rookie Doug Bollinger was out of luck in his first-class debut, bowling Nash from a no-ball which clipped the off-stump and raced to the boundary.

Earlier, the Bulls claimed valuable first-innings points when they dismissed the Blues for 443.

© 2002 AAP

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