Queensland had its top three to thank for first innings points after a middle order collapse on day three of the Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia at the WACA today.

At stumps the Bulls were 7-474, a lead of 42 runs, courtesy of opener Jimmy Maher's 174 and hefty contributions from Martin Love (91) and Jerry Cassell (86).

Queensland claimed first innings points, but not before the WA attack had breathed new life into a game that had seen 501 runs made for the loss of just five wickets in the preceding five sessions to tea on day three.

Maher sparked the collapse when he fell to a controversial LBW decision on the last ball before tea when the score was 3-374, just 59 runs away from first innings points.

He was out on the third ball of Warriors captain Simon Katich's (1-21) first over after having defied the WA attack for 319 deliveries and striking 23 fours.

The classy left hander was well down the wicket when the ball wrapped his pads and he looked up in astonishment when he was given out by Ian Lock.

Maher came to the wicket when opener Cassell delivered a full blooded cut to Matthew Nicholson at gully off Brad Williams (3-103).

He reached his 150, and completed a 150 run partnership with Love, with a straight drive past Jo Angel (1-94) to the boundary.

The pair continued to compile runs until Love fell agonisingly short of his ton when Sean Cary (1-60) accepted a sharp chance off his own bowling to send him back to the pavilion after 188 minutes in the middle.

Then, in a fiery opening 40 minutes after the break, Williams had Andrew Symonds caught at third man by Nicholson for one and Stuart Law played onto his stumps for four.

Nicholson (1-95) then chipped in to remove Clinton Perren, LBW for 11, to make the score 6-392 and the Bulls' tail was left to find the 41 runs needed for first innings points.

James Hopes contributed 14 before he became Angel's first wicket when he skied a drive to Scott Meuleman at point.

Wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe (37no) then survived a missed chance by his Warriors counterpart Ryan Campbell when he was on 15 and the score 7-425.

From there he and Ashley Noffke (33no) steered the Bulls safely to stumps.

© 2001 AAP