Usman Khawaja fell 12 runs short of a hundred in his first match for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at the Gabba.
Batting on a green wicket in overcast conditions, Khawaja arrived at the crease with the score at one for none and guided the hosts to five for 202 at stumps.
With Test selector Rod Marsh watching, the stylish left-hander combined patience with expansive stroke-making hitting 11 boundaries and punishing the inexperienced Redbacks seam attack when they erred in length.
Australia’s first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon did not escape either.
The former NSW batsman brought up his half century in style, moving down the wicket and crashing Lyon (0-35) through the covers for four – he also hit the spinner over mid-on for six.
The only false shot before his dismissal came when, with 11 to his name, shortly after a 54-minute rain delay, he was dropped by Gary Putland at long leg off the bowling of Chadd Sayers (2-62).
Khawaja, who made the last of his six appearances for Australia against New Zealand in Hobart last December, had 71 by tea and seemed set to smoothly progress to three figures when he was trapped leg before by Sayers shortly after tea, ending a 229-minute tenure at the crease.
Joe Burns was Queensland’s next highest scorer reaching 35 before he feathered behind to become Putland’s (2-56) second victim.
Captain James Hopes with 22 and James Hartley, on eight, will resume the innings for the reigning Shield champions on Tuesday.
Lyon won the toss and received early reward for sending the Bulls into bat when Wade Townsend fell leg before without scoring to Sayers.
Khawaja and Andrew Robinson steadied the ship before the latter edged Putland behind for 30, with 69 on the board.
The Bulls other Test batting hopeful in action, Peter Forrest, was dismissed for 16 edging Joe Mennie (1-39) to Michael Klinger at first slip.
With similar weather forecast for Tuesday, South Australian debutant Phil Hughes is likely to face a stern test of his technique against accomplished Bulls pace bowlers Ben Cutting and Alister McDermott.
Nathan Hauritz was named as 12th man on his return to action for Queensland, following six years with NSW, with leg-spinner Cameron Boyce preferred on a pitch more suited to seam bowling.