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Match Report:

Scorecard

Debutant Agar's new-ball blitz puts SA on top

Aided by a super catch from Alex Carey, first-game quick grabs three late scalps after Michael Neser helped roll the Redbacks for 221

Debutant Wes Agar has edged South Australia back into their Marsh Sheffield Shield battle at the Gabba after Queensland paceman Michael Neser had earlier ripped through the Redbacks.

The Bulls were 3-70 at stumps, chasing the Redbacks' 221, with former Test trio Joe Burns (39), Matt Renshaw (18) and Usman Khawaja (2) all falling late on Friday's opening day.

Wes Agar's stunning start to Sheffield Shield career

Agar (3-6), the younger brother of Ashton, took all three wickets, with Renshaw falling to a spectacular catch from Alex Carey while Khawaja was caught on the crease and adjudged lbw in the day's final over.

Earlier, Ashes tourist Neser (5-56) sent a reminder to selectors, having figures of 3-0 at one stage (not conceding a run from his first 41 balls) as South Australia limped to lunch at 5-55.

Neser pushes Test case with stunning Shield spell

Test vice-captain Travis Head, left out of Australia's side for the final Ashes Test, was one of three in the top six to register a duck before Tom Cooper (69) and Tom Andrews (78) rescued the innings in the middle session.

Neser returned to bowl Cooper, though, while Cameron Gannon and Mark Steketee both picked up two wickets and Marnus Labuschagne jagged the big scalp of Alex Carey, bizarrely bowled lap-sweeping a straight ball, on the stroke of lunch.

Pushing for a Test return after being overlooked for the Ashes, Burns played with freedom before becoming Agar's maiden first-class wicket.

Renshaw followed shortly after, gloving a short Agar delivery down leg side to be well caught one-handed by a flying Carey.

Carey soars to reel in an absolute hanger

Khawaja looked unimpressed when given out in the shadows of day one in a dismissal reminiscent of his first-innings departure last week against NSW.

Earlier, Cooper and Andrews put the heat back on the Bulls after lunch, blazing boundaries all around the wicket in a brisk 89-run stand that piloted the visitors away from serious trouble.

Bulls debutant Xavier Bartlett (0-31 from nine overs) bowled tidily, while fellow first-gamer Bryce Street will be itching for a chance after earning selection following his recent triple century for a Queensland XI.

Swing king Chadd Sayers has returned to the Redbacks XI after recovering from injury with Adam Zampa dropped and Kane Richardson being managed ahead of their ensuing Marsh Cup 50-over game on Wednesday. 

South Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Travis Head (c), Tom Cooper, Alex Carey (wk), Tom Andrews, Cameron Valente, Nick Winter, Chadd Sayers, Wes Agar

Queensland XI: Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Charlie Hemphrey, Bryce Street, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Michael Neser, Cameron Gannon, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett