Tigers, Bulls share day one honours

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A marathon 93 from former Test opener Ed Cowan ensured Tasmania a respectable start on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at Bellerive.

Cowan batted for more than five hours before a late fightback from the Bulls left the Tigers 5-244 at stumps.

The 31-year-old's 223-ball knock made the Big Bash League seem a distant memory after the home side had been sent in.

In bowler-friendly conditions, the solid Cowan took 158 balls and 241 minutes to pass 50, his first boundary coming after 78 deliveries.

But he put on 143 with the recalled Steve Cazzulino, whose 63 came from 188 balls.

They had Tasmania in a commanding position at 1-162 before a reverse-swing double strike from Ben Cutting (2-41) reduced the home side to 3-162.

Cowan fell lbw to Alister McDermott (2-35) at 4-176 after an innings that included nine boundaries, three of them from successive deliveries.

The 18-Test veteran Cowan notched his second straight half-century after making 59 in the second innings of Tasmania's loss to Western Australia last week.

He's made a century and five 50s this season to be the competition's fourth leading runscorer with 582 at 44.77.

Cazzulino was back for his first match since being dropped for missing training two seasons ago with the Tigers missing batsmen George Bailey (hip), Jordan Silk (shin) and Alex Doolan (Test duty).

The home side made just 50 in the first session for the loss of Mark Cosgrove (7) at 1-19.

Last season's Shield final opponents both need an outright victory to have any chance of staying in touch with the competition's leaders.

Ben Dunk will resume unbeaten on 47 with Tim Paine 12.