Tailender Chris Swan dived in deep to rescue a sinking Queensland ship at the Gabba today as the Sheffield Shield made a captivating return to Australian cricket.
Entering a treacherous wicket with the Bulls in dire straits at 8-91 against Tasmania, unheralded paceman Swan belted an unbeaten 76 for the home side to post a respectable 236.
In reply, the Tigers lost opener Michael Dighton for a duck to be 1-5 when bad light brought an early stumps.
It was a fine end for the Bulls after the visitors won a crucial toss and had Queensland 4-13 in the opening half-hour as Ben Hilfenhaus and Brett Geeves ripped through their top-order.
Dumped Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds (5) was the third man out in the carnage, enduring a forgettable return to the first-class arena when he edged a reckless drive off Hilfenhaus into the gully.
Although Greg Moller and Ashley Noffke stopped the rot momentarily with a 45-run union, the Bulls never recovered until paceman Swan brought up a record century partnership against Tasmania with nuggety wicketkeeper Chris Hartley.
The pair put together 135 for the ninth wicket before Hartley fell to a brilliant mid-air catch by Rhett Lockyear at square-leg off swing bowler Tim MacDonald (4-42) for 55.
But Tasmanian skipper Dan Marsh was still left to rue a major missed chance with Hartley dropped by a diving George Bailey at floating slip before he scored.
Gold Coaster Swan, who earned a tight selection battle for his sixth Shield match ahead of Grant Sullivan, quickly made the visitors pay.
He was particularly savage on Geeves and went on to bring up a cherished maiden half-century off 54 balls with successive pull shots off Hilfenhaus.
"Just to be picked in the first 11 of the season is a buzz and fortunately (Andy Bichel) isn't 100 per cent or I wouldn't be here," said the overjoyed 30-year-old.
"It was a very tough wicket to bat on. It was doing plenty.
"Harts and I just broke it down and kept it simple and played to our strengths but also played and missed a lot.
"The wicket's going to be like that again tomorrow so it's nice to have a target to bowl at."
Like Swan, former West Australian MacDonald only got his chance to shine following the surprise withdrawal of Gerard Denton.
The even day-one finish was a far cry from earlier in the day when the Tigers' new-ball duo took just 38 balls in 28 minutes to rip the heart out of Queensland's top-order.
Overnight and morning showers spruced up a greenish Gabba pitch which produced movement off the seam to go with the swing through the air thanks to the humidity and overcast skies.
Hilfenhaus (2-45) struck with his first ball of the match, rocking back the off-stump of promoted opener James Hopes with an unplayable leg-cutter.
Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the Sheffield Shield cricket clash between Queensland and Tasmania at the Gabba.
Queensland 1st Innings
R BROAD c Paine b Geeves 3
J HOPES b Hilfenhaus 1
M LOVEc Butterworth b Geeves4
A SYMONDS c Butterworth b Hilfenhaus 5
G MOLLER b Doherty33
C SIMPSON lbw b MacDonald 15
A NOFFKE c Marsh b Butterworth20
C HARTLEY c Lockyear b MacDonald 55
R HARRIS b MacDonald 7
C SWAN not out 76
D DORAN c Dighton b MacDonald 6
Sundries (4b 4lb 3nb)11
Total 236
Fall: 2, 8, 13, 13, 39, 84, 84, 91, 226, 236.
Bowling: B Geeves 10-0-63-2, B Hilfenhaus 14-3-45-2 (1nb), T MacDonald 10.1-1-42-4 (1nb), L Butterworth 12-3-42-1 (1nb), X Doherty 6-0-19-1, D Marsh 3-0-17-0.
Batting time: 219 mins. Overs: 55.1.