Bulls upset SA in JLT Cup qualifier

Queensland have caused the first upset in the JLT One-Day Cup finals by knocking out last year's runners-up South Australia in a rain-affected qualifying final at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.

The Bulls won by 24 runs (DLS method) after posting a mammoth 5-363 having been sent in to bat, with Sam Heazlett (83), Joe Burns (80no), Jimmy Peirson (70) and Chris Lynn (68) each scoring a half-century.

A short rain delay left South Australia chasing 359 from 49 overs, but the revised total proved too large despite a classy century from veteran batsman Callum Ferguson (101), with leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson named player of the match for his return of 3-64 from nine overs.

The Redbacks looked on track for a huge run chase at 5-295 with Ferguson and Alex Carey at the crease, but a collapse of 4-16 saw them bowled out for 334. 

Despite winning just one match in the group stage of the JLT Cup, Queensland – along with all teams this season – qualified for the finals and eliminated the third-placed Redbacks.

The Bulls now face Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday, while South Australia will now turn their attention to the JLT Sheffield Shield, which starts October 16.

"Our goal is to be the first team to win the wooden spoon and the premiership in the same year," Burns said after play.

"Obviously it's a little bit strange coming sixth and getting into a knockout game. But that's white ball cricket and you're dealing with those extra pressures come knockout games."

 With rain forecast for the evening, Redbacks captain Jake Lehmann sent Queensland in to bat but any hope of containing the Bulls batting order was dashed as Heazlett burst out of the gate, racing to 50 from just 33 balls before holing out in the 17th over to take the score to 2-119.

Lynn was watchful early – two from 19 balls at one stage – but once his eye was in he cracked seven fours and three sixes. With a third century of the tournament there for the taking, a miscued lofted drive brought about his downfall as Cameron Valente (2-77) had his second wicket.

Burns and Bulls skipper Peirson kept the carnage going with a 116-run partnership as the Bulls ransacked 99 from the final 10 overs, with paceman Kane Richardson (1-90 from nine overs) copping the brunt of the damage.

Spin twins Tom Andrews (0-55) and Adam Zampa (0-57) were the clear standouts with the ball, bowling with great control but without luck.

Weatherald was savage when play resumed, hammering seven fours and four sixes, including four boundaries in a row off Mark Steketee after being dropped by Heazlett at point on 45.

He joined debutant opener Conor McInerney (24) in the pavilion when he picked out Max Bryant on the long-on rope to be left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann's second victim.

Ferguson looked in exquisite form, crisply hitting nine boundaries to race to his half-cenutry from 37 balls before moving in to second place on the list of the most prolific 50-over run-scorers for South Australia behind Redbacks legend Darren Lehmann.

A catch between the thighs from Bulls gloveman Peirson removed a disappointed Lehmann but with Ferguson at the crease the run chase was on target.

A 76-run stand between Ferguson and Tom Cooper kept South Australia on track and their head above the DLS par score, but when the latter fell the game was evenly poised with 12 overs to go.

Spin was proving the most successful bowling option and it was Swepson who struck a telling blow by dismissing a flying Alex Carey and then in the following over, Ferguson skied Steketee moments after reaching three figures for the ninth time in Redbacks colours.

As the run rate skyrocketed the South Australian tail collapsed chasing quick runs to fall short by 24 runs to see the Bulls advance.

South Australia: Weatherald, McInerney, Ferguson, Lehmann (c), Carey (wk), Cooper, Valente, Zampa, Andrews, Mennie, Richardson 

Queensland: Heazlett, Bryant, Lynn, Hemphrey, Burns, Peirson (c), Steketee, Kuhnemann, Swepson, Bartlett, Stanlake