Tigers wickets tumble

BRISBANE, Nov 14 AAP - A crafty trap set by stand-in captain Michael Kasprowicz to snare the prized wicket of Tasmania skipper Ricky Pointing and some aggressive bowling by Andy Bichel put Queensland in the box seat after a poor opening session in the Pura Cup clash at the Gabba.

The Bulls, facing a potentially huge run chase when the Tigers cruised at 0-98 at lunch, ran the cleaners through the the visitors soon after with Test pace man Bichel fittingly shutting down Tasmania's innings on 187 when he shattered tailender Shane Jurgensen's stumps.

At the close Queensland was in good shape at 1-69 trailing Tasmania's meagre first innings by 118 runs.

Tasmania lost 10 wickets for 83 on a pitch that didn't offer the bowlers much assistance after being hurriedly prepared following Australia's blowout first Test win over England at the weekend.

Whatever was on the lunch menu must have been spicey because there was some extra fire in the Bulls attack when they resumed.

"The ball didn't swing as much as we thought in the first session," said Kasprowicz, who added he wasn't concerned after watching Tasmania coast to 98 without loss.

"Bic (Bichel) got two wickets after lunch which got us on the right foot."

Leading Queensland for the first time, 13-season veteran Kasprowicz appeared in danger of doing a "Nasser Hussain" after putting Tasmania in and watching them rattle up the runs.

But two wickets by Bichel in the space of five deliveries to remove openers Jamie Cox (51 off 104 balls) and Michael DiVenuto (50) in the second over after lunch triggered a stunning turnaround.

Cox, playing a record 147th first-class game for Tasmania, the most by any player for one state, looked on target for a big score until he became the first of Bichel's four victims.

When Ponting fell to Kasprowicz's three card trick, the Tigers were wobbling at 3-113.

Kasprowicz shrewdly positioned Scott Brant at deep backward square leg and then tempted Ponting to a rash pull shot with a shortish delivery.

As as soon as Ponting hit the ball he knew he was out, Brant barely moving to swallow the catch like a Venus fly trap.

The top order collapse continued with big Joe Dawes having Michael Dighton caught in slips by Stuart Law for 13 after Daniel Marsh (1) threw away his wicket cheaply by not offering a shot to a Kasprowicz off cutter.

While his chief rival Brett Lee took five wickets in Sydney against South Australia, Bichel did his second Test claims no harm finishing with an impressive 4-46 off 17.2 overs, well supported by Kasprowicz (2-38) and youngster Scott Brant (2-41).