This was Abbott's return match after a regulation bouncer he bowled to South Australia's opener Phillip Hughes in the Shield match at the SCG two weeks ago struck him in the neck with a catastrophic result. Hughes died two days later and Abbott's state teammates went to great pains to explain they had tried to protect their friend from any guilt or possible blame for what happened.

The 22-year-old needed to wait until the 30th over of Queensland's second innings before his skipper, Moises Henriques, threw him the ball. The Queenslanders were 3-84 as Abbott marked out his run-up. Thirteen blistering overs later they were skittled for 99 and he was named man-of-the-match. Abbott's 6-14 reflected the potency of his pace and reverse swing on a pitch expected to favour the spinners. It certainly mesmerised the Queensland batsmen.

"We made a pact at the end of last game that we were going to treat Sean no different to any other player," Henriques said. "We thought he was no more at fault than any other player in our team or any other cricketer that has ever played the game before. He was just one of the boys, he was just one of the 11 in our team to go out on the field and play that game, and he did it tremendously well."

Abbott, however, proved through his brutal spell that set up a well-deserved victory by an innings and 80 runs he is not just "another" player – he is blessed with rare talent. Peter Forrest was Abbott's first wicket, caught by Peter Nevill off the fifth ball of his first over (Queensland's fall of wicket, 4-74); Nathan Reardon was clean-bowled (5-79); Nevill combined to dismiss Ben Cutting (6-87); James Hopes was trapped LBW (7-87); Chris Hartley was caught by Wil Somerville fending off a short ball (8-88); and Cameron Brimblecombe joined the passing parade, bowled for a duck (9-88).

The damage done, Luke Feldman fell to Stephen O'Keefe. The victory – which included 198 to NSW opener Ryan Carters and 126 to Kurtis Patterson, who replaced Nic Maddinson when he withdrew from the team because of the emotional toll Hughes' death took on him – released some pressure but it was hard to celebrate.

"It's a strange feeling," Henriques noted of the mood. "At the start of this game no one knew what to expect. At the start of day one it wasn't so much about trying to come away with points, it was more so trying to get through the game and, I guess, get back into what we do for a living, and do it well. It's still quite mellow compared to other wins. You'd expect the boys to be a little bit more chirpy in there but they're certainly very proud. I think everyone is more so proud and very happy rather than boisterous in there."

NSW coach Trevor Bayliss marvelled at the manner in which Abbott finished the game – and finished it off. Bayliss also said the reality was Hughes will not ever be forgotten but he said playing – and completing – this match was crucial. "There's a number of the guys who were good mates with Phil, so that'll never disappear," he said. "I think having got through this first game – and, as I said, it didn't matter if we lost or won – it was getting through this game, back in that dressing room and enjoying one another's company and playing cricket together. I think the signs after this match are very good."

Henriques needed to think when asked how a victory, with so much emotion behind it, would be remembered. His answer, like Abbott's performance, will resonate throughout the years. "It's something new. I actually thought after last week 'as if this ground needs any more history than it already has' but in a strange way it just adds to how remarkable our game is, how bizarre our game is and something extraordinary that has happened on a cricket field."