Stuart MacGill showed Shane Warne how to break records but still couldn't conjure a remarkable NSW victory over Queensland.

While Warne struggled to take the two Indian wickets he needed in Bangalore to become the world's leading Test wicket-taker, MacGill calmly struck his record with a pair of scalps in only 14 balls at the Gabba.

The Test discard eclipsed Jo Angel as the most successful domestic one-day bowler with the wickets of Andy Bichel and Martin Love, and later returned to put the Blues on the brink of victory in the season-opening ING Cup clash.

Defending a modest 9-225 on a fine batting track, NSW nearly stole the match when MacGill snared man-of-the-match Andrew Symonds (71 off 66 balls) and then all-rounder Chris Simpson (3) after the home side was sitting pretty at 5-201 in the 43rd over.

Queensland lost 3-9 and needed another 16 runs from a nail-biting last 27 balls with two wickets in hand.

In the end it took a bold play by James Hopes (30 not out off 42) to charge Shawn Bradstreet and swat him over the long-on boundary to see the Bulls home by two wickets and 13 balls to spare.

"I would have liked to have batted for another three or more overs," Symonds said of an innings he regarded as among his best in the maroon uniform.

"We should have closed the game out for sure but they bowled tight and made it hard for us."

Symonds came to the crease at 2-81 when MacGill took his first wicket by having Bichel edging to slip for Shawn Bradstreet to take the first of three catches off the leg-spinner.

The scalp saw him equal West Australian Angel's mark of 94 wickets.

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