Dawes celebrates the prized scalp of Steve Waugh

Joe Dawes sparked a New South Wales collapse with three wickets after former Test opener Michael Slater made a century on a rain-interrupted day at The Gabba.

Seam bowler Dawes dismissed Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin in the space of nine balls as the visitors lost five wickets for 22 runs.

Queensland, bidding for their third successive title, opted to field after winning the toss and were rewarded with the wicket of Greg Mail with only two runs on the board.

It was their last success for 55 overs as Slater and Simon Katich rebuilt the innings with an aggressive stand of 191.

Ashley Noffke failed to enhance his claims for a place in Australia's squad to tour the West Indies with figures of 0-50 from 15 overs as the two batsmen reeled off a series of excellent strokes.

Play was held up for two hours by afternoon rain but Slater progressed to his century off 190 balls following the resumption, an innings containing two sixes and 12 fours.

Slater now has 36 first-class centuries to his credit

He failed to add to his score, however, lasting only seven balls more before he was caught by Clinton Perren off Mike Kasprowicz.

Dawes then made his intervention, trapping Test captain Waugh (nine) and Clarke (nought) lbw in the same over.

Worse was to come for New South Wales as Katich fell for 82, caught behind by Wade Seccombe off Kasprowicz.

The next over saw Dawes win another lbw decision against Haddin and Mark Waugh and Don Nash were only too happy to accept an offer of bad light from the umpires, bringing play to an end.