Alarm bells were ringing for Queensland in their six-wicket Sheffield Shield loss to unbeaten ladder leaders NSW in Brisbane on Wednesday - literally.
Set 128 to win, the Blues' decision to delay the tea break and push for the final 18 runs for victory was sabotaged by a fire alarm, set off in the NSW dressing room by Test spinner Nathan Lyon burning toast.
Tea was called with NSW 4-110 when the third umpire, scorer, players and spectators were forced to evacuate the Stuart Law Stand at Allan Border Field with rain threatening.
The Blues returned 20 minutes later to reach 4-130 and claim victory with a day to spare in their top-of-the-table clash.
NSW No.6 Daniel Hughes - who struck 98 not out in the first dig - remained unbeaten on 23 and was later named man of the match.
Test skipper Steve Smith was clearly not happy with Lyon, giving the offspinner a serve as players waited at the edge of the field for the fire drill to finish.
Lyon could later see the funny side of the incident after NSW sealed their third-straight Shield win.
"Yep, I did it (burnt toast). I got a bit bored in the change rooms," he laughed.
"It (toast) popped up first and I wasn't happy with it so I put it back in but got carried away watching cricket - it happens every second week (at home), I reckon."
The fire alarm came after NSW had suffered another scare, losing 4-15 in the middle session including the prized scalps of Smith and Test deputy David Warner.
NSW were cruising at 0-72 when Test opener Warner was caught hooking Luke Feldman for 37 off 41 balls.
Then Smith attempted an extravagant lofted drive, only to be clean bowled by Brendan Doggett for nine.
Earlier, NSW quick Sean Abbott (4-65) helped bowl the Bulls out for 215 after they had resumed their second innings at 5-129.
Marnus Labuschagne top scored with 88.
Usman Khawaja all but secured Australia's Test No.3 spot for next week's Ashes opener, rescuing Queensland on Tuesday when they had been reeling at 2-5.
He hit 51, backing up from his impressive 78 not out in the first dig.
Khawaja has made 346 Shield runs this summer at 86.50.
However, Queensland's Test opener Matt Renshaw failed again on Tuesday when he was caught down the leg side for just one.
Renshaw - who made 16 in the first innings - has 70 Shield runs at 11.66 ahead of the first Ashes Test, starting on November 23 at the Gabba.
