Queensland have kicked their Ryobi Cup season off in style, turning in a strong all-round performance to topple defending champions Victoria by 31 runs at the Gabba on Sunday.
Queensland have kicked their Ryobi Cup season off in style, turning in a strong all-round performance to topple defending champions Victoria by 31 runs at the Gabba on Sunday.
After setting the Bushrangers a demanding target of 270, the Bulls' frontline bowlers backed up the batting performance as they dismissed the visitors for 238 in the 49th over.
Queensland's marquee off-season recruit Peter Forrest was the undoubted star of the match, complimenting his team-best 81 with the bat with two impressive direct-hit run outs.
Steve Magoffin finished with fines figures of 3-59 from 12 overs, which included the prized scalp of Brad Hodge.
The Bushrangers innings was characterised by promising starts and soft dismissals, with Rob Quiney (57 from 67 balls) and 20-year-old debutant Peter Handscomb (42 from 59) showing the most resilience.
Opener Glenn Maxwell fell in the third over of the innings and the Bushrangers already-depleted batting card looked particularly frail when Hodge fell soon after playing an uncharacteristic loose swipe on just four.
Stand-in skipper Andrew McDonald was given one chance when Chris Lynn grassed the simplest of chances at second slip but the former Test all-rounder couldn't make the hosts pay for their lapse as he fell soon after for 26.
Victoria's 66-run fifth-wicket stand between Quiney and Handscomb would have instilled hope in the dressing room but with Quiney seemingly in control he was late on a short ball from Hopes and his scoop fell to Nathan Reardon at fine leg.
From the 33rd over to the 40th, rookie keeper Ryan Carters and composed debutant Handscomb prevented further loss, nudging and accumulating to take their total to 195 after 40 overs.
The Queensland bowlers couldn't make the breakthrough and so it was left to Forrest to end the frustration with a pair of athletic direct-hits accounting for Handscomb and then No.8 Peter Siddle in quick succession.
Carters was the next man to fall, lashing out at Cutting only to find the safe hands of Andrew Robinson at deep midwicket.
James Pattinson and Mark Cleary hung in and swung hard for a time but skied shots eventually went to hand and the visitors' wickets were all spent in the second-last over.
Earlier, Queensland's middle-order signing Forrest proved his fee had been money well spent, helping the Bulls recover from a slow start and sparking their late scoring rush to reach 7-269 at the close of their 50 overs.
Late-blooming No.3 Robinson was the next best with a well-made 66, while Dunk (43 from 33) and Cutting (23 from 10) provided essential quick runs at the close.
Siddle was the pick of an underperformed Victorian bowling attack, finishing with 3-49 after laying a strong foundation with a fierce and economical opening spell.
Victoria Innings
Maxwell c Cutting b Magoffin 10 (9)
Rogers st Dunk b Ipson 31 (53)
Hodge c Dunk Magoffin 4 (4)
McDonald c Swan b Hopes 26 (24)
Quiney c Reardon b Hopes 57 (67)
Handscomb run out (Forrest) 42 (59)
Carters c Robinson b Cutting 25 (44)
Siddle run out (Forrest) 5 (7)
Pattinson c Ipson b Magoffin 18 (13)
Cleary not out 6 (10)
Holland c Reardon b Cutting 0 (3)
Extras: 11 (4lb, 7w)
Total: 238 (10 wickets; 48.5overs)
FOW: 1-14, 2-19, 3-66, 4-96, 5-162, 6-196, 7-210, 8-215, 9-234, 10-238
Bowling
Magoffin 12 – 2 – 59 – 2
Swan 7 – 0 – 37 – 0 (2w)
Hopes 11 – 0 – 46 – 2
Cutting 10.5 – 0 – 54 – 2 (4w)
Ipson 8 – 0 – 36 – 1 (1w)
Queensland Innings
Broad c Holland b Siddle 30 (47)
Hopes lbw Siddle 0 (3)
Robinson b Maxwell 66 (73)
Lynn c McDonald b Pattinson 0 (7)
Forrest c McDonald b Pattinson 81 (96)
Reardon c Holland b Maxwell 18 (29)
Dunk c Carters b Siddle 39 (33)
Cutting not out 23 (10)
Ipson not out 2 (2)
Extras: 10 (1lb, 9w)
Total: 269 (7 wickets; 50 overs)
FOW: 1-4, 2-41, 3-46, 4-127, 5-164, 6-236, 7-246
Bowling
Pattinson 11 – 0 – 70 – 2 (1w)
Siddle 12 – 0 - 49 – 3 (4w)
Cleary 5 – 0 – 23 – 0 (1w)
Holland 5 – 0 – 30 – 0
McDonald 6 – 0 – 30 – 0 (1w)
Maxwell 11 – 0 – 66 - 2 (2w)
