Bell storms through Bulls to lead Tigers fightback

Gabe Bell returned career-best figures as Test aspirant Matt Renshaw failed for the second time in as many days, with batters continuing to struggle on a spicy Marsh Sheffield Shield pitch at the Gabba.

Queensland went to stumps on day two at 8-114, leading the ladder-leading Tasmania by 177 after the Tigers were dismissed for 219 on Sunday.

Renshaw, who was the spare batter in Australia's squad during the recent Test series against the West Indies, was out for two after hitting the same score in the Bulls' first innings.

After playing the last of his 14 Tests in India last year, Renshaw is considered the next in line after being added to Australia's squad ahead of Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft following David Warner's red-ball retirement.

Just like Saturday, Queensland's top-order was rocked before Ben McDermott walked to the crease.

Unlike the first innings, when McDermott smashed a brilliant unbeaten 146 to take Queensland to 282, the Tigers' bowlers charged on with the demolition job of the Bulls' middle-order.

McDermott was out for 16, while Joe Burns, Michael Neser and Jimmy Peirson all fell for ducks.

Tasmanian quick Bell backed up his outstanding spell of 4-40 on Saturday by destroying the Bulls with second-innings figures of 6-31 from 13 overs.

It was Bell's maiden 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket, topping his previous best match figures of 7-73, taking his Shield season tally to 32 victims at 16.84.

But Jack Clayton, who made a valuable 26 in the first innings, is giving Queensland a chance of posting a defendable total.

Like McDermott on Saturday, Clayton appeared to be batting on a different pitch as he smashed his way to an unbeaten 66 from 85 balls.

Tailender Liam Guthrie hung around with Clayton at the end, surviving 30 balls and his only scoring shot was an edge through slips.

Queensland are searching for just their second win of the season as they sit last out of the six states.

Meanwhile, Tasmania are trying to maintain their grasp on top of the ladder after losing just one of their six matches before the break for the BBL.

Sheffield Shield 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Western Australia Men WA	10	5	2	3	0	0	5.53	9.4	47.93
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	10	5	2	3	0	0	6.06	8.3	47.36
3 NSW Men NSW	10	4	3	3	0	0	6.31	9	42.31
4 Victoria Men VIC	10	4	4	2	0	0	4.74	8.2	38.94
5 South Australia Men SA	10	3	6	1	0	0	5.19	9.3	33.49
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	10	2	6	2	0	0	3.54	8.3	25.84

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points