Riley Meredith ensured Marnus Labuschagne’s return to Sheffield Shield cricket was short-lived as Tasmania claimed the honours on day one of their clash with Queensland at the Gabba.
Labuschagne, playing his first match since being overlooked for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, was one of two wickets for Meredith as the Tigers made the most of an opening day which ended 90 minutes early due to lightning.
At stumps the Bulls were 5-195 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with opener Hugo Burdon (70) and Jack Clayton (52) both posting half-centuries but failing to capitalise on their promising starts.
It was a disciplined performance from the Tigers attack in hot and humid conditions, with Meredith (2-47) leading the way while Jackson Bird and returning internationals Beau Webster and Matt Kuhnemann chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Labuschagne strode to the crease following the dismissal of Angus Lovell and wasted little time getting off the mark, driving Webster to the point boundary from his first delivery.
However, after reaching the lunch break unbeaten on 12, his innings came to an abrupt end in the opening over of the afternoon session when he edged a wider Meredith delivery behind.
The dismissal was a significant breakthrough for Tasmania, with the former Australian Test batter unable to make the most of his opportunity to press his case for a national recall.
Clayton, another batter firmly in the Test selection conversation, again looked assured at the crease as he brought up his fourth half-century from as many matches to start the Shield season.
But just as he appeared ready to turn another promising start into a substantial innings, the right-hander chased a wider delivery from Bird and edged to Webster, who safely pouched the chance in the slips.
Burdon provided the backbone of Queensland’s innings with a patient 70, but the Tigers continued to chip away to prevent the hosts from taking control of the contest.
Kuhnemann, playing his first red-ball match of the summer for Tasmania following international duties, then joined the wicket-takers late in the day when he bowled Jimmy Peirson.
The breakthrough came shortly before an afternoon lightning storm forced the players from the field, with no further play possible as Tasmania finished a shortened day in a promising position.