On an afternoon of many contrasts to its predecessor, wickets have tumbled late on day two of the Pura Cup match between Western Australia and Queensland at the WACA ground in Perth. But, for all of the technical revisions to the script, Queensland has generally remained very firmly in the driver's seat.

The value of good partnerships in cricket could probably have been no more clearly underlined than it was today. For the record-breaking 275 run association for the third Queensland wicket between Jimmy Maher (175) and Stuart Law (128) clearly assumes monumental significance on a scorecard that shows the Western Australians at a rocky 5/119 in their first innings in response to the Bulls' 442.

From the depths of despair, a fine spell from Warriors fast bowler Matthew Nicholson (4/119) acted as the catalyst for this afternoon's turn of events. There had been nothing in his team's earlier bowling to suggest the wicket-taking burst which was to follow. But, in steamy conditions at the WACA, in bounded the tall paceman with a purposeful effort which cast into perspective the extent of his team's earlier struggle for line and length. Although he needed considerable assistance in the form of a lazy cut (to third man) at a wide, short ball from Andrew Symonds (19) to get his wicket-taking spree underway, the speedster suddenly initiated a sequence of errant strokes that saw the visitors surrender their last eight wickets for a measly seventy-three runs.

Upon Symonds' concentration lapse, Nicholson probed away at Wade Seccombe (4) and duly received his reward when the wicketkeeper-batsman drove loosely at a ball moving marginally away to offer a catch to first slip. Suitably inspired, he soon produced easily the best delivery of the match to date - a blistering inswinging yorker - to tilt back the middle stump of a struggling Clinton Perren (9). The next to succumb was Andy Bichel (15) who, after successfully flailing a number of shots powerfully through and over the off side field, tried the trick once too often and feathered a catch through to Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps.

Capitalising upon Nicholson's strikes, Gavin Swan (1/58) and surprise left arm wrist spinning packet Simon Katich (3/46) then wrapped up the innings when they forced Adam Dale (12) and Matthew Anderson (5) into lofting catches to mid wicket and deep mid off respectively. Therein, they put the finishing touches on the stunning recovery that had come in the wake of a blitz from Maher and Law that had seen the pair establish the highest ever partnership for the third wicket at this venue and an all-time Queensland third wicket best against Western Australia at any ground.

Problems still abounded for the home team, though. Against some superb pace bowling from the trio of Bichel (2/40), Dale (1/18) and Ashley Noffke (2/34) - this attack rarely does anything other than bowl well - wickets tumbled with almost equivalent regularity at the start of its reply. In the twinkling of an eye, Ryan Campbell (7) was trapped straight in front of his stumps by Dale and key batsman Justin Langer (0) was lured into hooking wistfully at a Bichel delivery that beat him for pace. A disgusted Langer clearly believed that the ball had missed his bat on the way through, and his demeanour was possibly a metaphor for the Warriors' by-now grave position in the match. Damien Martyn (29) then played a number of exquisite shots but his innings was also cut far too short for the locals' liking when Noffke induced him to slash a leg cutter into the slip cordon. Later in the same over, Katich (0) nibbled at a delivery beautifully angled across him to present Seccombe with a regulation catch; and then the dismissal of Tom Moody (5) as he bottom edged another attempted pull shot at Bichel left the score at a dismal 5/74.

To their considerable credit, Mike Hussey (37*) and Gilchrist (31*) staved off any further alarms for the Warriors with a fine unbroken stand of forty-five amid fading light at the end of a day lengthened by slow over rates. But it seems that it will take all of their considerable powers with the bat tomorrow - and perhaps a touch of fortune too - to revive the Warriors' hopes of reaching anything like a position of parity in the match. Indeed, had Hussey not survived an excruciatingly close lbw appeal as he padded up unwisely at Bichel with his score at just two, matters could have been even more discouraging still.

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