A hard-hitting half-century to Nathan Reardon helped Queensland record their first Ryobi Cup win of the season with a five-wicket victory over Tasmania on Wednesday.
The Bulls' pursuit of 276 for victory was struck a blow in the 35th over when third umpire Paul Wilson overturned a not-out decision to send Peter Forrest (four) on his way, taking all momentum from what was looking like a relatively comfortable chase.
But needing five from the final over, they eventually reached the target with one ball remaining, thanks largely to some supreme hitting from Reardon (71 not out), who smashed eight fours and three sixes.
Jason Krejza (1-58) almost pulled off a last-over heist for the Tigers, keeping everyone guessing until the penultimate ball of the innings was sliced behind the wicket to the boundary by Jason Floros (10 not out) as Queensland reached 5-278.
With a copy of the playing conditions in hand, frustrated Bulls coach Darren Lehman appeared to gesticulate towards the central umpires as Forrest trudged from the field.
The Bulls were short-changed by the third umpire during last season's corresponding fixture and at one stage it seemed as though Lehman might seek out Wilson for an explanation as to why it appeared to be happening again.
Forrest's was one of a pair of contentious decisions on the day, Tasmania opener Tim Paine given out caught behind after a brute of a ball from Alister McDermott flashed past his gloves.
He lingered near the boundary as umpire Wilson looked for evidence to overturn the decision, but it was all to no avail and meant another stuttering start for the Tigers.
With Forrest gone, things looked even worse for Queensland when Joe Burns (39) was run out in an horrific mix-up with Reardon.
But Reardon made amends by teaming with Chris Lynn (24) to add 51 runs in quick time and steady the ship.
In-form Queensland opener Usman Khawaja (78) carried on the same rich vein of form that saw him post a Sheffield Shield ton on Saturday, before being bought undone by the return of James Faulkner (2-78) to the attack in the 31st over.
The Test hopeful had shown his customary poise at the crease and was particularly effective in combining for a 116-run opening partnership with captain Chris Hartley (44), who was the first to fall, trapped in front by Krejza.
On a fine day in Hobart, the home team were propelled to their total by a George Bailey century and solid contributions from Alex Doolan (48) and Jonathan Wells (41).
Bailey finished with 102 from 124 balls, caught in the deep two balls after bringing up his ton with an edge to the third-man boundary from McDermott's (3-65) bowling.
The Tasmania skipper may have felt he owed his side a big score having been culpable in Doolan's run out just as it looked like the pair were capable of turning their 94-run stand into something massive for the home side.
As it was, Bailey found another ally in Wells, the diminutive right-hander contributing well on his return to the Tasmania team, sharing a 98-run partnership with the skipper.
When Wells departed, caught at backward point from the bowling of Nathan Hauritz (3-53), the Tigers looked like wasting the top order's good work, falling from 4-200 to 7-230 and fast running out of time to post an ominous total.
But that all changed when Faulkner (30) took a liking to Ben Cutting and belted the big quick for three sixes in the same over as the innings neared its close, giving the Tigers a more defendable target.
In the end, Tasmania finished a handful of runs short and could not stop the Bulls from snapping a six-game Ryobi Cup losing streak and making it a clean sweep on their trip south.
First Posted 14 November, 2012 10:10PM AEST
