The Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba between Queensland and Tasmania was evenly poised at the end of day one, with the Tigers finishing on 8-236.
Despite both sides enjoying periods of dominance, neither could sustain the pressure for long enough to gain a big advantage going into day two.
After a solid start to Tasmania's innings, the Bulls had their opponents teetering at 5-90 after lunch, but a 97-run stand between Jon Wells and Tim Paine pulled their side out of trouble.
Just when it looked like that partnership would swing the match in Tasmania's favour, Queensland's bowlers struck back with a pair of wickets.
Tasmania got off to a cautious start after being sent in to bat.
Opening pairing Jordan Silk (25) and Mark Cosgrove (25) put on a steady 47, giving little away aside from several thick outside edges which fell short of the slips cordon.
Finding the boundary was proving difficult on an outfield that has seen plenty of rain in recent days, while Queensland's toiling pace bowlers were having trouble extracting anything threatening from the pitch.
Cosgrove brought an unexpected end to the partnership when he was run out attempting an optimistic single after he had dropped the ball at the feet of Greg Moller coming in from cover.
The Tigers brought up 50 just after the lunch break for the loss of one wicket, but Silk was the second man to go a short while later when he was bowled through the gate by a scorching Alister McDermott delivery.
The returning Ryan Harris (3-77) then claimed his first two wickets for Queensland since last year's final with consecutive deliveries in his 14th over.
The quick, who underwent shoulder surgery in August, trapped Alex Doolan (21) plumb in front, then welcomed George Bailey to the crease with a savage rising delivery that he could only fend to Joe Burns at third slip.
Ricky Ponting (14) was gone next over when he pulled a James Hopes (2-57) delivery to the only man fielding deep in front of square on the on-side, Joe Burns, who took a comfortable catch to leave Tasmania wobbling at 5-90.
Following the middle order mini-collapse, Wells (82) and Paine (42) steadied the ship to guide the Tigers to 5-124 at tea, though Wells did survive a dropped catch in the slips by Peter Forrest off the bowling of Cameron Gannon.
The pair took advantage of a pitch that looked ever more lifeless as the day wore on, easily dealing with anything bowled at a good length, and pulling or cutting loose deliveries to the fence to keep the score ticking along.
Wells brought up his third first class 50 off the bowling of McDermott with a rare streaky shot, slashing a thick edge wide of slips to the third man boundary.
Nathan Reardon broke the 97-run stand in his first over, though much credit goes to Gannon who snared a sharp catch at gully to send Paine on his way.
Harris then clean bowled James Faulkner with a ball that cut in sharply off the seam.
The dismissal of Wells in the last over of the day will give the Bulls hope of getting in to bat early on Friday with a reasonable target to aim at.