Centuries to Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth have given Queensland a strengthening pulse as they aim to return to Adelaide for the Sheffield Shield final.
Looking shot at stumps on day two, Queensland have batted themselves back into the complicated equation that will decide who plays top side South Australia in the March 24-28 final.
By reaching 330 inside 100 overs in their first innings on Monday, Queensland picked up a vital batting bonus point against SA at Karen Rolton Oval.
"I'm glad we could dig in and get ourselves in a position where we could get what we needed out of that first innings, keep ourselves alive and hopefully get to a final," Peirson said.
Assuming their match ends on Tuesday with a tame draw, Queensland will return to play SA in the final at the same venue - provided Victoria beat WA in Perth and Tasmania continue to dominate NSW in Hobart.
In Perth, Victoria led WA by 260 runs on the second innings with four wickets in hand soon after tea on day three. In Hobart, Tasmania led NSW by 446 runs on the second innings with seven wickets in hand during the second session, also on day three.
Queensland started the last round in second place, but SA's imposing 7 (dec)-614 set the agenda and then the visitors crashed to 5-110 by the end of day two.
Peirson combined with Michael Neser, who also was vital with his 68, to stop the rot in Monday's morning session and they put on 109 for the sixth wicket.
Then Wildermuth cut loose, belting 104 from only 90 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes, as he and Peirson racked up 151 in their seventh-wicket stand.
Most importantly, Peirson and Wildermuth took the score to 330 in the 94th over to secure the batting bonus point.
First Wildermuth and then Peirson were dismissed, their jobs done. Peirson played an outstanding knock, top-scoring with 128 in 281 balls with nine fours and a six.
Queensland were dismissed for 370 and predictably, SA batted again given a result is unlikely.
Nathan McAndrew, who ripped through Queensland's top order, Henry Thornton and Lloyd Pope took three wickets apiece.
Neser was rested for the remainder of Monday's play and Peirson confirmed that was with an eye to the final, as Queensland monitored scores from the WACA and Bellerive with growing confidence.
SA reached 2-66 at stumps in their second innings, with Jason Sangha (24) and Nathan McSweeney (eight) looking for pre-final batting practice on the last day.
