Ball dominates day one as home side level Sheffield Shield contest against South Australia

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Queensland seized back momentum on a bowler-friendly opening day of their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia, with 14 wickets tumbling as the match remained finely poised at the Gabba.

The key moment came late in the day when Alex Carey was dismissed for 18, giving Queensland the edge after an action-packed day of swings in momentum. Carey was the final wicket to fall, leaving South Australia struggling at 62 for 4 at stumps.

South Australia had earlier won the toss and struck first, bowling out Queensland for 185 on a green-tinged surface at Gabba. But Queensland responded strongly with the ball during the final session to even the contest.

Carey, who had been stabilising the innings alongside Jason Sangha (15*), slashed at a wide delivery from Jem Ryan with less than three overs remaining. Hugh Weibgen held a sharp catch at gully to seal a vital breakthrough after the pair had rebuilt from 28 for 3. Ryan also removed opener Mackenzie Harvey for 21, while Michael Neser and Tom Straker chipped in with a wicket each as Queensland pressed home their advantage.

Earlier, Queensland themselves had been rescued by a crucial seventh-wicket stand of 88 between Jimmy Peirson and Hayden Kerr after collapsing to 75 for 6 in overcast conditions. Peirson top-scored with 52 and was the last batter dismissed, bowled by Liam Scott, while Kerr contributed a valuable 43.

Scott was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 5 for 33 from 15.5 overs — a new career-best and his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. His spell was complemented by an impressive debut from left-arm pacer Campbell Thompson, who made an immediate impact after replacing the injured Brendan Doggett.

Thompson troubled veteran opener Usman Khawaja throughout his opening spell and was unlucky not to dismiss him early. He finished with excellent figures of 2 for 6, including eight maidens, from his first 10 overs. Thompson’s maiden Shield wicket came when Lachlan Hearne edged to slip, before Michael Neser was dismissed three balls later, clipped to square leg.

Khawaja eventually fell for 15, caught behind off Scott, while Jordan Buckingham provided another key moment for South Australia by removing Marnus Labuschagne, also caught by Carey, after drawing him outside leg stump.

Nathan McAndrew survived 10 deliveries as nightwatchman but appeared hampered by a knee issue that flared up while bowling earlier in the day.

Queensland began the round second on the Sheffield Shield ladder, holding a seven-point advantage over fourth-placed South Australia — a margin that added extra significance to a fiercely contested opening day dominated by the ball.