Bulls in control

Glen Batticciotto's maiden first-class century has lifted Queensland to a total of 9-382 and a commanding lead of 226 runs at stumps on day two of its Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania.

Batticciotto resumed on Monday morning unbeaten on seven, with his side stalling at 4-75 and first-innings points still very much up for grabs.

The 26-year-old proceeded to take control of the match in a determined five-hour innings that netted 101 runs and, combined with the efforts of Chris Hartley (85) and Chris Swan (82 not out), boosted the Bulls into the box seat.

Brett Geeves (5-106) nabbed his sixth first-class five-wicket haul to finish the Tigers' best bowler on a day that was well and truly dominated by the willow.

Batticciotto finished with 15 boundaries next to his name, the most impressive being a cracking cover-drive off Tim MacDonald that rocketed to the rope.

The second-gamer was a brick wall early on, taking 125 balls to notch his maiden half-century.

The late-bloomer only made his Shield debut last month, having spent a number of years in the cricketing wilderness after featuring alongside the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Hartley in the Australian Under-19 side at the 2000 World Cup.

It was Hartley who joined Batticciotto in the middle for the majority of the first two sessions as they went about smothering the Tigers attack in a match-turning fifth-wicket partnership.

The pair took a risk averse approach early on, slowly peeling off 30 runs in the first hour of play, before wrenching control of the game in a 176-run stand.

Swan then belted the visitors into submission, cracking 14 boundaries in what was his highest score at Shield level and an entertaining end to Monday's play for the home crowd.

Earlier, Hartley brought up a personal milestone of 2000 first-class career runs before being undone by some sharp seam movement and fierce bounce from Geeves.

The Tigers will be cursing the fact they gave the inform wicketkeeper two reprieves, with Dan Marsh grassing a chance in the slips when he was on 21 and Luke Butterworth following suit at gully when he was 77.

Bulls skipper Chris Simpson (29) added quick runs before edging to Marsh when the score was 5-284, while Batticciotto was clean bowled the next over by Jason Krejza's quicker delivery.

Swan formed vital partnerships with Ben Cutting (13), Daniel Doran (three) and Scott Walter (zero not out) late in the piece to ensure the hosts would finish the day well on top.

Bulls opener Ryan Broad has a badly bruised hand but Queensland officials are confident he will be able to bat in the second innings.

Tasmania 1st innings 156

Queensland 1st innings
Kruger b Krejza b MacDonald 13
Broad b Geeves 30
Townsend c Jones b Geeves 8
Carseldine b Geeves 3
Batticciotto b Krejza 101
Hartley c Jones b Geeves 85
Simpson c Marsh b Drew 29
Cutting c Butterworth b MacDonald 13
Swan not out 82
Doran lbw b Geeves 3
Walter not out 0
Extras: 15 (3lb, 12nb)
Total: 382 (9 wickets ; 126 overs)

FOW: 1-31, 2-48, 3-57, 4-60, 5-236, 6-284, 7-284, 8-323, 9-352

Bowling:
Geeves 32- 9 - 106 - 5 (12nb)
Butterworth 21 - 3 - 60 - 0
MacDonald 28 - 8 - 84 - 2
Krejza 23 - 7 - 58 - 1
Drew 15 - 4 - 55 - 1
Marsh 7 -2 - 16 - 0