Blues cruise to six-wicket win over Bulls

NSW have claimed a six-wicket victory over Queensland with a day to spare in their JLT Sheffield Shield clash in Brisbane.

Set 128 to win on Wednesday and with rain looming, the ladder-leading Blues cruised to 4-130 early in day three's final session to seal their third-straight Shield win.

Daniel Hughes, who struck 98 not out in the first dig, was unbeaten on 23. The Blues lost 4-15 in the middle session including Test stars Steve Smith and David Warner.

NSW were cruising at 0-72 when Test opener Warner was caught hooking Luke Feldman for 37 off 41 balls.

Then Australian skipper Smith had a brain explosion on nine, inexplicably stepping back to thrash Brendan Doggett over the covers, only to be clean bowled.

Feldman (3-45) removed opener Nic Maddinson (24) and Moises Henriques (five) in quick succession to give the Blues a scare.

Earlier, NSW quick Sean Abbott (4-65) helped to bowl the Bulls out for 215 after they had resumed their second innings at 5-129.

Marnus Labuschagne top scored with 88.

The Bulls did not post a demanding target but it could have been worse.

Test batsman Usman Khawaja rescued Queensland on Tuesday when they were at a perilous 2-5.

He hit 51, backing up from his impressive 78 not out in the first innings. Khawaja has made 346 Shield runs this summer at 86.50.

However, Queensland's Test opener Matt Renshaw failed again on Tuesday when he was caught down the leg side for just one.

Renshaw - who made 16 in his first knock - has 70 Shield runs at 11.66 ahead of the first Magellan Ashes Test, starting on November 23 at the Gabba.

Queensland: Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth, Jimmy Peirson, Mitchell Swepson, Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett, Luke Feldman. Mark Steketee 12th.

NSW: David Warner, Nic Maddinson, Steve Smith (c), Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Peter Nevill (wk), Trent Copeland, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon, Doug Bollinger. Harry Conway (12th man)