Mark Waugh saved his best for last, blazing 72 runs from 49 balls in his farewell innings, but Queensland reached the Pura Cup final with a heart-stopping win over NSW at the SCG.

Setting NSW 277 runs from 55 overs to win, the Bulls took the wicket of Glenn McGrath with the final ball of the second last over to win by 37 runs and squeeze into the decider ahead of Tasmania.

The game finished under lights at 7.34pm with McGrath facing part-time offspinner Chris Simpson with eight fielders huddled around the bat. He was caught at silly mid-off for two.

The Bulls will now face Victoria in the Cup final from Friday at the MCG.

NSW declared its first innings on its overnight score of 4-196 before a ball was bowled and to set up a result after 46 overs were lost to rain, the Bulls declared their second innings on 1-54.

After Steve Waugh was dismissed for nine, Mark hit seven fours and three sixes to finish his first-class career with a better average than his illustrious brother.

Mark finished with 26, 855 runs from 368 matches at an average of 52.04 compared to Steve's 24,052 runs from 356 games at 51.95.

NSW could not make the final after Tasmania secured first innings points against Victoria, but the Bulls were still alive.

Fast bowler Andy Bichel took 4-69 but he was forced out of the attack when bad light became a problem, only for part-time spinners Simpson (3-8) and Aaron Nye (1-15) to take a combined four wickets.

Wicketkeeper Chris Hartley executed two superb stumpings, especially one down leg side to get rid of Nathan Bracken for four.

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