Rob Forsaith at the Gabba
Queensland will enter next week's Sheffield Shield final against Victoria with serious questions hanging over its top order after teenager Chris Lynn was the only man to stand up for the Bulls in a largely underwhelming day at the office against Western Australia on Thursday.
The Bulls entered their final preliminary fixture against the last-placed Warriors with a chance to snatch hosting rights from the Bushrangers, but at the end of a one-sided second day the home side appears destined for their first loss in Brisbane this season.
A fluent unbeaten maiden century from Lynn propped up Queensland's stumps score of 6-209, an overall lead of just 29 runs, after WA captain Marcus North earlier pocketed first-innings points and enforced the follow-on in the first session.
Lynn demonstrated impressive composure to enter the record books alongside Andrew Symonds, Martin Love and Jimmy Maher when he became the fourth youngest player to score a century for Queensland.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, the 19-year-old was the exception rather than the rule as impressive WA youngster Nathan Coulter-Nile and former Queenslanders Steve Magoffin and Ben Edmondson run amok.
Queensland resumed at 5-62 on Thursday morning and while Chris Hartley (12) and Chris Simpson (10) briefly looked like offering the sort of resistance, the pair fell in the space of four balls after almost lasting the first hour.
The tail may have saved the Bulls in the last two matches against Victoria and South Australia, but it failed to wag this time and the home side was routed for just 106.
Boasting a first-innings lead of 180 runs, North opted to send the Bulls back in shortly before lunch and the move paid dividends.
The Bulls negotiated their way safely to the meal break at 0-18, but slick swing bowling from Coulter-Nile saw Wade Townsend out edging shortly after lunch.
Tight bowling from Magoffin, who finished with figures of 3-15 from 16 overs, was then the undoing of Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon and Hartley as the wickets tumbled swiftly around Lynn.
Lynn was a picture of confidence amongst the calamity, delivering a couple of deft back-foot drives through the covers before bringing up the milestone with a booming six off North.
He will resume unbeaten on 116 alongside Ben Cutting (20 not out) on Friday.
Western Australia 1st innings 286
Queensland 1st innings
Broad c Ronchi b Coulter-Nile 17
Townsend c Ronchi b Magoffin 2
Philpson c North b Coulter-Nile 30
Lynn c Swart b Coulter-Nile 4
Reardon c Coulter-Nile b Magoffin 3
Hartley c Robinson b Edmondson 12
Simpson c Coulter-Nile b Magoffin 10
Cutting c Robinson b Knowles 8
Swan c Pomersbach b Edmondson 9
Feldman c Pomersbach b Edmondson 0
Boyce not out 0
Extras: 11 (8lb, 3nb)
Total 106 (10 wickets, 39.1 overs)
FOW: 1-3, 2-51, 3-55, 4-58, 5-62, 6-89, 7-89, 8-106, 9-106, 10-106
Bowling:
Magoffin 13 - 7 - 22 - 3 (3nb)
Edmondson 9 - 1 - 41 - 3
Knowles 6.1 - 0 - 21 - 1
Coulter-Nile 9 - 5 - 11 - 3
Johnston 2 - 1 - 3 - 0
Queensland 2nd innings
Broad lbw b Knowles 14
Townsend c Ronchi b Coulter-Nile 9
Philipson c Ronchi b Magoffin 8
Lynn not out 116
Reardon c Coulter-Nile b Magoffin 14
Hartley c Ronchi b Magoffin 4
Simpson c Ronch b Johnston 8
Cutting not out 20
Extras: 16