Perren leads Bulls onslaught against South Australia

BRISBANE, Jan 21 AAP - Makeshift opener Clinton Perren completed an eight-hour assault on South Australia today as Queensland surged towards its fifth consecutive victory of the Pura Cup season.

Perren unleashed a career-high 224, filling the opening spot vacated by Australian one-day batsman Jimmy Maher, to fling the Redbacks on to death row heading into tomorrow's final day at the Gabba.

The visitors will resume at 2-46 in their second innings, chasing 409 for victory, with captain Greg Blewett (21 not out) the main hope as he chases his third century in as many first-class matches at the Gabba.

The Redbacks must match the patience of Perren, who crashed the tenth highest score by a Queenslander in an interstate match, as the Bulls rushed to 8-487 declared in their second innings.

He faced 367 deliveries, hitting 33 boundaries as Wade Seccombe (70), James Hopes (39) and Lee Carseldine (37) helped Queensland overturn its 79-run first-innings deficit.

Perren had resumed on 104 not out and celebrated the greatest day of his career when he carved Blewett to the backward point boundary to record his double-century, fulfilling a challenge set by his club teammate Maher earlier in the day.

"Jimmy sent me a text message this morning asking if I'd ever scored a double century before," Perren said.

"I really hadn't thought about it before that because I was only thinking it was nice to turn up to a match going out to bat on 104.

"I've got a few messages from him since and it was pretty exciting to get 200 because I'd only got one double before, back when I was about 16 or 17."

Perren was a reluctant opener, hardly jumping at the prospect of replacing Maher when selectors asked him last Saturday.

But he has booked himself into the opening role for the rest of the season as Queensland makes an ominous move towards its fourth consecutive Pura Cup title, eyeing a six-point lead if it wins tomorrow.

They may be without Michael Kasprowicz tomorrow after the pace spearhead left the field with a calf-muscle spasm after bowling just two overs in the Redbacks' second innings.

But Queensland still inflicted wounds on the Redbacks. Joe Dawes (1-19) claimed the wicket of Ben Johnson (seven) while Adam Dale dismissed David Fitzgerald for a 34-ball duck.

It completed a miserable day for Fitzgerald, who grassed a tough chance from Perren on 117.

The Bulls were reminded of the value of Blewett's wicket when the former Test opener smacked four boundaries in the final overs to limit the damage for the Redbacks.

Ben Higgins finished 13 not out, joining 18-year-old debutant Mark Cosgrove as the men who must help Blewett fend off the Bulls tomorrow.

The Redbacks need an outright victory to boost their hopes of overhauling frontrunners Queensland and Victoria in the race for a final berth.