Kasprowicz and Dale push Bulls towards outright win

BRISBANE, Feb 28 AAP - Gabba hitmen Michael Kasprowicz and Adam Dale gave Victoria another Brisbane belting today as Queensland virtually booked itself a berth in the Pura Cup cricket final.

The Bulls will host the March 14 decider if they finish off the Bushrangers, who ended the second day in deep trouble.

The visitors were 1-18 in their second innings, still needing 172 runs to make Queensland bat again on a testing Gabba wicket which has become Victoria's most dreaded piece of turf.

The Bushrangers haven't won at the ground in almost 20 years and, unless Lazarus is listed at No.4, their hopes of appearing in the decider rest with next weekend's final round clash with Western Australia.

They crashed for 159 in the first innings, ensuring Queensland claimed the necessary two points to move six clear of the second-placed Bushrangers.

Kasprowicz (5-50) and Dale (3-30 and 1-6) sliced through the Victorian top order, leaving the visitors wobbling at 5-50 before rookie David Hussey supplied an impressive 62.

Hussey kissed the Victorian badge on his helmet after reaching 50 in a joking reference to the teammates who ribbed the West Australian about his loyalties after switching states.

His Victorian education continues because Hussey now knows what it's like to bat in a Bushrangers team that struggles at the Gabba.

After bowling too short and wide, enabling Clinton Perren (136) and Ashley Noffke (67 not out) to drive the Bulls to 349, Victoria never looked comfortable with the bat in overcast conditions.

Opener Jason Arnberger fell for two sucker punches in one afternoon.

He was dismissed for seven and five - edging a tempting Kasprowicz delivery to Martin Love at first slip and then not offering a shot as Dale bowled him in the second innings.

But the Victorians could still consider themselves unlucky because Queenslander Daniel Payne took a remarkable catch to break up a promising stand between Hussey and Andrew McDonald (21).

Payne was airborne and outstretched when he intercepted a lightning cut shot from McDonald, who looked solid during a 63-run stand.

Kasprowicz, who frustrated the Victorians earlier in the day with a handy knock of 16, would not rule the Bushrangers out of contention in the match.

"We didn't bowl really well in the first innings. They still worked us to the legside and we know we can still bowl better lines," Kasprowicz said.

"We had some good partnerships in the lower order today and that is something we spoke about and it can frustrate the opposition.

"We were 5-89 and managed to put on another 260 so that's always going to have an effect on the other team when they go into bat."

Dale, who moved within one wicket of 200 scalps for Queensland, almost pulled off a brilliant catch, running along the boundary towards a towering flick from McDonald.

Dale caught the ball and had control over it but his momentum took him over the boundary rope.

He threw the ball back into the field of play to at least save a boundary.