Marnus Labuschagne has produced his highest score of the season and Joe Burns struck a timely half century to put Queensland in a strong position in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Townsville.
Labuschagne (92 not out off 150 balls) and former Test opener Joe Burns (76 not out off 183 balls) have shared an unbeaten 167-run stand to guide Queensland to 1-187 at tea on day one.
No.3 Labuschagne logged scores of 32, eight and 45 in the Bulls' first two games of their Shield title defence, while he was out for six in a one-dayer against South Australia.
The star batsman will play a key role in Australia's bid to retain the Ashes this summer, while a big score from Burns would ensure he remains on the radar of national selectors.
Lawrence Neil-Smith captured the only wicket to fall, with his fourth ball of the match finding a thick edge to dismiss Bryce Street. Captain Beau Webster accepted the straightforward catch at second slip.
Burns suffered a few nervous moments on the way to his half-century.
He was lucky to survive a tight LBW shout from spinner Tom Andrews on his back pad when on 47.
A short time later, he edged paceman Gabe Bell in between the wicketkeeper and first slip, who was wider than normal.
Usman Khawaja won the toss, revealing paceman Gurinder Sandhu would play his maiden first-class game for the Bulls.
Sandhu, who played two ODIs for Australia in 2015, represented NSW and Tasmania before shifting to Queensland.
