Queensland batsman Chris Lynn was tinkled pink about his crucial knock which put the Bulls in a strong position on Monday in their must-win day-night Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the Gabba.
Lynn, in his Shield comeback from a rib injury, dragged his side out of a sticky situation in difficult batting conditions, helping the Bulls to 5-269 when umpires called stumps at 8.50pm (AEST).
The 23-year-old Lynn made a patient 88, including 12 boundaries, before he was caught and bowled by former Bulls seamer Nathan Rimmington (2-50).
Peter Forrest chipped in with an unbeaten 74, with wicketkeeper Chris Hartley not out four. Queensland need maximum points from their remaining two matches while the Warriors sit on top of a congested table.
All the talk leading up to the experimental day-night Shield match, one of three played across the country on Monday, was how the players would handle the pink ball.
Would batsmen be able to pick up the pink Kookaburra against the black sightscreens? Would the ball still swing once the shine was gone? However, the biggest threat to the Bulls’ batsmen in the first session was the overcast skies on a greenish Gabba wicket.
Lynn said he struggled to see the white seam on the pink ball but, otherwise, the radical changes did not have a major influence on his batting.
“I found it hard when it was cloudy and then sunny,” he said. “I couldn’t see the seam very well as the ball got older. That made it hard against the balls that were swinging.
“You always see the seam with the red ball. We said we had to use our game experience. We knew they would bowl the ball a bit fuller, so we were ready for that.”
Warriors skipper Adam Voges had no hesitation in sending the home side in to bat.
His decision looked to be vindicated when the Bulls were wobbling at 2-37, with Jason Behrendorff (2-71) claiming the scalps of openers Dom Michael (26 off 107 balls) – a late replacement for Luke Pomersbach (back injury) – and Joe Burns (15), who was bowled shouldering arms.
Former Test batsman Usman Khawaja (1) holed out to gully and could not repeat his heroics against South Australia last month when he rescued the Bulls with an unbeaten 182.
But Lynn combined forces with Forrest in a 96-run partnership to put the Bulls back on track for a decent score.
The pink ball was photographed after every session and will be sent to Cricket Australia for examination as it hopes to host a day-night Test match against New Zealand late next year.