Maher ton leads Bulls to healthy total

BRISBANE, Oct 20 AAP - Jimmy Maher continued an impressive start to his captaincy career with Queensland as he hit a classy century against NSW in the ING Cup one-day match at the Gabba today.

The Bulls reached 4-287 from their 50 overs, with Maher scoring 119 from 140 balls in his best performance since taking over the leadership from Stuart Law this season.

With Lee Carseldine (59 from 64 balls) and Clinton Perren (52 not out from 46) compiling solid half-centuries, Queensland made the Blues sweat on another hot day in Brisbane.

Australia A paceman Stuart Clark, playing his first match in four weeks, captured an excellent 3-31 from 10 overs to limit the damage for the Blues but there was trouble elsewhere.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill (0-67 from nine) continued a miserable week in Brisbane when he was punished by the Bulls batsmen, conceding 11 runs from his fourth over and 16 from his ninth.

Maher and Perren slapped him over the fence but MacGill wasn't alone as Shawn Bradstreet (0-39 from five) and Dominic Thornely (0-39 from six) were also punished during a mediocre display from the Blues.

Maher's career tally moved past 2,500 runs for Queensland in domestic one-day matches when he put Thornely over the long-on fence in the 27th over.

The Australian one-day batsman took advantage of a chance when he was just three after wicketkeeper Brad Haddin spilled a tough catch from the bowling of Clark.

Maher and Carseldine recovered from the early loss of Martin Love (14 from 24) with a partnership of 127 from 138 balls before Perren and Brendan Nash (24 not out from 21 balls) added an unbeaten stand of 63 from just 47 balls.

Queensland is seeking its first win of the season after losing last week's opening clash to the Blues by 45 runs at North Sydney Oval.