The Sheffield Shield final was reduced to a gritty battle of attrition on day two as Queensland's bats dug in to frustrate the Bushrangers attack in pursuit of the Vics' first-innings total of 305.
At stumps, the Bulls were 6-199 with skipper Chris Simpson 16 not out and Ben Cutting unbeaten on one, trailing by 106 runs with four wickets in hand.
Ryan Broad held the show together for the Bulls with an innings of 80 in 300 minutes that was as aesthetically dull as the late afternoon conditions which prompted a hopeful appeal against the light.
But in terms of effectiveness, Broad's knock was absolutely brilliant.
Of the 206 deliveries Broad faced, 164 were dot balls, there were dozens of near things and seemingly at least one play and miss per over - but nothing fazed him.
His first lapse of concentration for the day was his last when he played over a well-flighted leg-break from Bryce McGain and was bowled in the shadows of stumps.
Last month's Shield match at the Gabba aside when he made 15 and five, the 28-year-old has an outstanding record against the Vics.
His previous seven innings against them yielded three centuries and a 96, including a second-innings hundred in this corresponding match last season.
Resuming on Thursday morning at 9-286, the Bushrangers' last pair Darren Pattinson and Bryce McGain added 19 before a diving Wade Townsend at square leg snaffled a catch from Pattinson off Ben Cutting.
Queensland's plan to build a substantial first-innings lead came unhinged early with the dismissal of Townsend for one and No.3 Lee Carseldine (seven) with only 14 runs on the board.
Dropped by Wade - a difficult one down leg-side - before he'd scored, Townsend was bowled through the gate by an exquisite Pattinson inswinger and, three overs on, Wright picked up the wicket of Carseldine, caught by Andrew McDonald at third slip.
Broad and new partner Chris Lynn rode their luck in the 45 minutes to lunch, but Lynn's deserted him 10 minutes into the second session when he was adjudged lbw to a slider from Andrew McDonald.
Coming in at No.5, James Hopes cracked four boundaries in his 17, but the slash he expected to provide him with a fifth was intercepted by David Hussey at second slip off McDonald, leaving the Bulls 4-93.
Broad and Sheffield Shield player-of-the-year Chris Hartley dug in for a 65-run stand in 112 minutes that was painful to watch.
Every delivery was a hand grenade, there were half-chances galore, and barely an over went by without a full-blooded shout from the Vics for one thing or another.
Hartley, who took 22 balls to get off the mark, was given a life on three when substitute fieldsman Michael Hill spilled a straightforward chance at midwicket off Wright.
It was McGain who finally removed Hartley for 24 from 95 deliveries, trapped in front attempting to sweep.
Six of the last eight overs of the day were maidens as Simpson and Cutting put up the shutters with Friday in mind.
Matthew Wade was the first-day hero for Victoria with a fighting hand of 96 that helped to rescue the hosts from a perilous 6-75.
Dismissed in the second-last over of the day Wade enjoyed strong support from tailenders John Hastings (47), Wright (42) and Pattinson.
Chris Swan returned the best figures for the Bulls of 3-65.
Victoria first innings
Quiney c Hartley by Swan 15 (21)
Jewell b Swan 7 (32)
Finch c Simpson b Feldman 26 (42)
Hussey c Hartley b Hopes 8 (11)
McDonald c Hartley b Feldman 0 (1)
White b Cutting 10 (37)
Wade c Cutting b Hopes 96 (207)
Hastings c Hopes b Boyce 47 (116)
Wright b Swan 42 (53)
Pattinson c Townsend b Cutting 25 (57)
McGain not out 7 (28)
Extras: 22 (8lb, 12nb, 2w)
Total: 305 (10 wickets, 98.5 overs)
1-24, 2-33, 3-46, 4-60, 5-60, 6-75, 7-161, 8-245, 9-284, 10-305
Bowling
Swan 24 - 6 - 65 - 3 (2w)
Cutting 21.5 - 4 - 59 - 2 (8nb)
Hopes 22 - 8 - 43 - 2 (1nb)
Feldman 15 - 3 - 46 - 2 (2nb)
Simpson 5 - 2 - 25 - 0
Boyce 11 - 1 - 59 - 1
Queensland first innings
Broad b McGain 80 (206)
Townsend b Pattinson 1 (12)
Carseldine c McDonald b Wright 7 (7)
Lynn lbw McDonald 40 (63)
Hopes c Hussey b McDonald 17 (18)
Hartley lbw McGain 24 (95)
Simpson not out 15 (61)
Cutting not out 1 (16)
Extras: 12 (4b, 4lb, 4nb)
Total: 199 (6 wickets, 79 overs)
1-3, 2-14, 3-73, 4-93, 5-158, 6-195
Bowling
Wright 17 - 8 - 32 - 1
Pattinson 13 - 3 - 40 - 1 (3nb)
McDonald 21 - 9 - 53 - 2
Hastings 14 - 2 - 37 - 0 (1 nb)
McGain 14 - 5 - 29 - 2