Backs-to-the-wall tons from Michael Neser and Jimmy Pierson have helped Queensland earn a fighting draw in their Sheffield Shield match against NSW.
After conceding a 270-run first-innings lead, the Bulls defiantly ground their way to 7-417 in their second dig at the new Cricket Central ground at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday.
Neser (140) and Pierson (106) underpinned the gritty rearguard with a 200-run sixth-wicket stand before Jack Wildermuth (52no) and Gurinder Sandhu (32no) comfortably saw out the last session on day four.
"We had to really fight hard for it," Queensland captain Usman Khawaja said.
"We were not in a place to win that game, only NSW could really win the game.
"It was a really good fight today and I'm really proud of how the boys went about it."
NSW, winless last summer and chasing their first Shield victory since February 2022, looked on track for the drought-breaker when they reduced Queensland to 5-91 on day three but they could only muster 2-326 from the last 121 overs.
Neser, a genuine allrounder these days, notched his fifth first-class ton and, remarkably, his third in his past three matches following a bumper County Championship campaign last English summer when he plundered 487 runs at 81.16 for Glamorgan.
Pierson raised his seventh first-class century before falling shortly before lunch, trapped lbw when he missed a half-tracker from Chris Green.
Neser's best-ever Shield knock ended on the last ball of the second session when he smacked a full toss back to Jason Sangha who snaffled a superb diving catch with his right hand.
Wildermuth, no slouch himself at No.8 with three first-class 100s, was unmoved for 172 balls.
NSW's attack was willing but depleted.
Hayden Kerr (injured abductor) was unable to bowl after lunch and faces a stint on the sidelines, while Jack Edwards (heel and back soreness) could only bowl two overs in the last two sessions.
"Given how well we played for almost all of this match, it's disappointing to not collect the six points," NSW captain Moises Henriques said.
"On a pretty docile wicket at the end, I can't fault the effort of any of our bowlers, I thought they tried their guts out."
Edwards had earlier put NSW on top with bat and ball, taking 6-36 to skittle the Bulls for 176, then stroking 87 to pace the home side's 446.
