Blues prevail despite Neser new-ball blitz

New South Wales survived a top-order collapse as the Blues' lesser lights did the job for a five-wicket victory to deny Queensland an unlikely Sheffield Shield triumph at the Gabba on Sunday.

Opener Daniel Hughes steered NSW over the line with his gritty half-century helping the Blues home just after tea on the fourth and final day of a rain-affected contest in Brisbane.

Chasing just 134 to win, NSW were reduced to 5-53 before Hughes (66 not out) and captain Peter Nevill (31 no) steadied the ship with an unbroken 81-run partnership on a challenging Gabba batting wicket.

David Warner was sensationally out to the very first ball of the innings, while Test teammate Steve Smith, who was out for a duck in the first innings, looked in good touch before he fell for 21.

Unused Ashes tourist Michael Neser (3-42) was the primary destroyer for Queensland taking the first three scalps as NSW lost 4-25.

Queensland resumed at their overnight 5-186, but quickly lost Marnus Labuschagne for 52, soon after posting his second half century of the match, and then wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson for 33.

Test paceman Mitchell Starc (1-87) collected the crucial wicket of Labuschagne, but it was an otherwise fruitless match for the left-armer.

In contrast, Harry Conway starred with the ball for NSW, returning figures of 5-39 off 17.5 overs, and collecting a maiden first-class ten-wicket haul.

Queensland XI: Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Cameron Gannon, Billy Stanlake.

NSW Blues XI: Daniel Hughes, David Warner, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Nick Larkin, Nick Bertus, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Trent Copeland, Harry Conway.