Debutants the difference as Bulls stutter in defence again

Brad Haddin's coaching career has begun with a win as his New South Wales side mowed down Queensland's sizeable total in the One-Day Cup.

The Bulls set 359 to win after a century to Hugh Weibgen, but the Blues, led by new skipper Lachy Shaw, muscled their way to victory with an over to spare.  

It was the second time in four days that Queensland's big first-innings total had gone in vain, after their 335 wasn't enough against Victoria on Saturday night.

There were plenty of winners for Haddin's new-look side, including their two debutants Riley Kingsell (79 off 82) and Jake Scott (52no off 39).

The 21-year-old Kingsell, son of Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ryan, looked every part a state cricketer with a classy knock at the top of order.

Scott meanwhile showed composure at the other end of the innings, combining with Will Salzmann (70no) in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 108 to open the Blues' account for the season.

Salzmann had (relatively) crawled to 28 off 41 balls with nine overs remaining in the chase as the required run rate continued to grow. But a superb straight six off Queensland's best bowler on the night, Mitch Swepson (1-54), kicked his innings into gear and he finished with a strike rate above 100. 

With 717 runs piled on between the sides, the crowd were also treated to 35 sixes, the second-highest number ever recorded at the men's One-Day Cup match.

Seven of those sixes came off the blade of Kurtis Patterson, who plundered an electric 63 off 32 inside the Powerplay to turbo-charge the NSW chase.

Patterson looked set to break his own record for the fastest Blues ton (65 balls, last season) but fell before the fielding restrictions eased.

When Max Bryant pulled off a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss debutant captain Shaw (44), Queensland were in the box seat to rectify their mistakes from the weekend.

However, opposing first-gamers proved the difference once again. The inexperienced Queensland bowling attack - missing wise heads Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett and Cameron Gannon - failed to close out the match with young quick Tom Straker's figures of 1-105 the most expensive in the history of the competition. 

Earlier, Queensland's innings was built from Weibgen's magnificent century, the second of his professional career.

While his innings began with some streaky leading edges, he was able to find his timing as his opening partner Jack Clayton took on the role of the aggressor.

Clayton took particular liking to young NSW allrounders Salzmann and Scott, powering his way to a career-high 80 off 79 balls.

But after Tanveer Sangha broke the 156-run opening stand, Weibgen launched his onslaught.

He crunched 69 runs off his final 36 balls, clearing the rope seven times in total. The largest was a slog sweep off Sangha which landed with a thud in the middle of the Stuart Law Stand roof at deep, deep midwicket.

The impressive 21-year-old brought up his hundred off only 78 balls, the fifth-fastest in Queensland history, which also comfortably beat his 85-ball effort against Western Australia last year.

Marnus Labuschagne spent a valuable 80 minutes at the crease in his final hit before jetting off for South Africa and accelerated nicely throughout his innings.

The incumbent Test No.3 finished with 60 off 47 balls and was caught attempting his fourth six.

He was out off the final ball of the 41st over, and with the hosts 4-299 at that stage, close to 400 would have been the goal.

However, some really smart bowling, and some good fortune, from Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott saw the Bulls lose 4-21, halting their momentum.

Some lusty late blows from Hayden Kerr and Swepson ensured the total passed 350, setting an eerily similar target to Saturday night.

2026-27 One-Day Cup standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	1	1	0	0	0	0	4.863	0	0	0	5
2 NSW Men NSW	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.167	0	0	0	4
3 Victoria Men VIC	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.103	0	0	0	4
4 South Australia Men SA	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
5 Western Australia Men WA	2	0	1	0	0	1	-4.863	0	0	0	2
6 Queensland Bulls QLD	2	0	2	0	0	0	-0.132	0	0	0	0

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points