Bulls chase down Tigers

Queensland’s quest for a bonus point almost ended in disaster, but they did enough to overcome Tasmania by two wickets this afternoon in their ING Cup match at the Gabba.

The Bulls side, featuring many international players, did well to restrict the Tigers to 211 on a very good batting pitch, then cruised to 4-173, just 39 runs from the precious bonus point with six overs remaining.

However, a collapse of 4-31, including captain Jimmy Maher for 99, nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, before Queensland steadied to record their first victory of the new cricket season.

“It’s a good wicket, it’s a fast outfield. It was disappointing we didn’t get the bonus point, I thought we had a good platform to get it, we just didn’t execute well enough at the end, but still came away with the four points,” Maher said at the post-match presentation.

Tasmanian captain Ricky Ponting, returning for a rare domestic appearance, found comfort in the way the Tigers defended their meagre total, but with Michael Bevan and Daniel Marsh out of the side until at least Christmas, acknowledged that they will need to find more runs from their top order to stay competitive.

This was evident earlier in the day, when Ponting won the toss and chose to bat, but had no-one go on to make a big score.

Some good bowling from stalwarts Andrew Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz had the Tigers struggling at 4-92 in the 18th over- Kasper knocked over his former captain with a beauty for 19- before Michael DiVenuto and David Dawson rectified the situation with a 74-run stand.

Both notched up half-centuries, however, the belated introduction of James Hopes would soon spell the end of the Tasmanian innings, as he combined with Nathan Hauritz to dismantle the batting lineup. Hopes captured 4-23 from six overs, while the off-spinner chimed in with one wicket, a pair of run outs and a catch to help dismiss the Tigers for just 211 in 46.5 overs.

In reply, Matthew Hayden and Maher made their intentions clear immediately, pulling and hooking with confidence as Tasmania’s opening bowlers failed to find a consistent length, often pitching too short.

Hayden’s unfortunate demise for 21, run out backing up too far at the bowler’s end, did little to halt the Bulls’ progress and regular partnerships between Maher and the majority of the batsmen enabled Queensland to reach relative comfort at 4-173 in the 34th over.

But the dismissal of Hopes, which was followed soon after by a Perren-Maher mixup that cost the Bulls’ captain a well-deserved century, threatened to derail Queensland as they approached victory. Disciplined bowling from the Tiger’s Doherty and promising debutant Hilfenhaus saw two further wickets tumble in the pursuit of quick runs, before Hartley and Hauritz cooled proceedings and ensured a Bulls’ triumph.

Full scorecard available here.

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