Former Test seamer Michael Neser almost produced a clean sweep of Tasmania as he drove Queensland to a commanding position with a magical spell in Hobart.
Neser got the ball talking after Tasmania made it to 0-86 in pursuit of the Bulls’ 9-425.
He removed both set openers and then ran through the Tigers to capture the first six wickets of the innings.
At one stage, Neser had 6-30 – including Test man Beau Webster for 11 – as Tasmania quickly slumped to 6-133.
Neser’s bid to take all 10 wickets was broken by three quick scalps and a run out from Mark Steketee but he still managed to finish with 6-37 off 15.
Queensland dismissed Tasmania for 161 and left the Tigers 1-70 at stumps after enforcing the follow on.
Nathan McSweeney, meanwhile, scored an opportune half-century under immense pressure as other contending Test opener Sam Konstas again failed to survive the new ball.
McSweeney navigated an early onslaught from Scott Boland on a green seamer at Junction Oval before stumps on Day 1 and went on to score a gritty 60.
McSweeney’s half-century came as Konstas made 6 for New South Wales, dismissed through another loose shot early in his innings.
While he batted in his SA position of No. 3, McSweeney walked to the middle inside the first over of the innings with the score 1-0.
He took nearly 30 balls to get off the mark before stumps on Day 1 but absorbed the pressure as Boland snared two early wickets.
McSweeney’s first first-class score above 50 since Test ascension was not enough to give South Australia a first-innings lead as it fell two runs short of Victoria’s 285.
Victoria got through the difficult period before stumps to finish 0-46.
Konstas punched a drive to mid-off late on Day 1 after the Blues had dismissed Western Australia for 196.
While it appeared more an error in execution than approach, his dismissal opened the door for the hosts to get on a roll before stumps.
New South Wales was able to rally on Day 2 despite being 4-26, courtesy of yet another half-century from the reinvented Kurtis Patterson.
Patterson was 68 not out as the Blues went into tea 5-161.
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