Blues win thriller against Bulls to move into final of Matador Cup

NSW has ended Queensland’s two year reign as domestic limited overs champions after defeating the Bulls in a thrilling preliminary final at Blacktown Oval on Friday.

Chasing a modest total of only 227, the Blues batsmen struggled to keep up with the required run rate, and at 6-172 in the 41st over looked to be heading for their third consecutive defeat.

However a 52 run partnership between Ryan Carters and Pat Cummins off only 36 balls got NSW to within three runs of the Queensland total at the end of the 49th over.

Although the Bulls took two wickets and kept the Blues scoreless off the first three balls of the final over, an edged boundary from Cummins got NSW over the line with two balls to spare.

It was a good day for the Blues, as not only did they make it through to the final after two consecutive losses, they also welcomed back test all-rounder Shane Watson to the side after a long lay-off due to injury.

Shane Watson made a solid return for NSW after a long injury lay off. mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Watson scored 34 in his return, and while it was by no means a great knock, he was just glad to be on the field again.
“It was great to get out there again,” he said after the game.

“It was nice to get some time in the middle. It would have been nice to score a bit quicker but it wasn’t meant to be.

“To be a part of NSW getting through to the final, it was a great day in the end.”

Earlier in the day NSW looked to be cruising to an easy victory. On the back of some fine attacking bowling by Abbott and Hazelwood, the Bulls were struggling at 5-71 off 18 overs, and when Cummins chipped in with the wicket of Floros a few overs later Queensland were in serious trouble.

However a record seventh partnership of 112 between man of the match James Hopes (72 off 96), and Ben Cutting (52 off 68), allowed Queensland to post a competitive score of 8-225 off their 50 overs.

The NSW innings began well enough, with Peter Nevill (44), and Nic Maddinson (20), sharing in a 56 opening stand before Maddinson was caught by Hartley off the bowling of Floros.

Although all the NSW batsmen got starts, none of them were able to build a big innings. Neville (44), Watson (34), Patterson (35), and Rohrer (33) all passed 30, but none looked very comfortable against the Bulls attack.

When Abbott was caught by Reardon off the bowling of George for a duck in the 43rd over, NSW were 6-172 and required 51 runs to win off the 36 balls.Ryan Carters (28 off 23), and Pat Cummins (31 off 21), combined in a seventh wicket partnership of 52 off only 37 balls to get the Blues to within a run of the Bulls score heading into the final over.

The responsibility to bowl the last over was given to Luke Feldman and he responded immediately, taking the wicket of Carters off the first ball of the over. Two balls later Sandhu was run out at the non-strikers end, and the Blues looked to be in danger of repeating the last over capitulation that occurred against Victoria earlier in the week.

However a streaky edge from Cummins which made it to the boundary off the fourth ball of the over saw NSW pass the QLD total with two balls to spare.

The win was their third against the Bulls in the tournament and not only broke a two game losing streak, it also put the Blues into the final of the Matador Cup where they will face the undefeated Western Warriors at the SCG on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS

SCORECARD

12th men: Gannon, CJ (QLD),Jackson, P (NSW)

Umpires: Fry, SD (AUS), Wilson, P (AUS)

Third Umpire: Ward, JD (AUS)

Match Refree: Stratford, RW (AUS)

myFootDr Queensland Bulls: Chris Hartley (wk), Joe Burns, Peter Forrest, Ben McDermott, Nathan Reardon, Jason Floros, James Hopes (c), Ben Cutting, Cameron Boyce, Luke Feldman, Peter George, Cameron Gannon (12th)

NSW Blues: Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Shane Watson, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Ryan Carters, Sean Abbott, Patrick Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu, Josh Hazlewood, Doug Bollinger, Patrick Jackson (12th)

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GALLERY

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Image courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

Shane Watson made a solid return for NSW after a long injury lay off. mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty Images

mage courtesy: Mark Kolbe Getty ImagesSCORECARD

 

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Blues move to top of Matador Cup table with win over Bulls

Queensland conceded top spot on the Matador Cup table to NSW, after the Blues defeated the defending champions by four wickets at Allan Border field on Monday.

On the back of a very solid performance in the field, the Blues overcame a shaky start with the bat to pass the Bulls total of 190 with two and a half overs to spare.

A steady loss of wickets saw NSW in trouble at 5-96 in the 30th over, before a sixth wicket stand of 91 between Ben Rohrer and Ryan Carters all but guided the Blues home, leaving them undefeated after two matches.

Earlier in the day, Bull’s skipper James Hopes won the toss and elected to bat first on the same pitch used by NSW and SA in similar conditions on Saturday, when a score of 240 proved to be about 30 runs short.

After returning from the Champions League in India, Doug Bollinger came into the NSW side at the expense of Chris Green and was the first NSW bowler to claim a wicket, when Hartley was caught by Lalor for eight.

However that was the only highlight for the Blues early as Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns took the score to 70 in the 13th over, before Khawaja advanced down the pitch to Henriques only to be caught by Rohrer at backward point for 43.

His dismissal triggered a mini collapse, with Forrest (0), Burns (18), and Floros (2), all out in quick succession, before Nathan Reardon (45), and James Hopes (39), steadied the Queensland innings with a partnership of 73 runs.

Hopes’ dismissal off the bowling of Hazelwood in the 36th over brought Ben Cutting (7) to the crease whose own wicket soon after triggered another Queensland batting collapse. The Bulls losing their last four wickets for only 14 runs, and almost eight overs short of their allotted 50.

After taking seven wickets in NSW’s opening game, Hazelwood (3-47), continued his good form, while Gurinder Sandhu (3-37), and NSW Captain Moises Henriques (3-28), also took multiple wickets.

The NSW openers started slowly before the in-form Nic Maddinson (14) tried to belt Mark Steketee to the boundary once too often in the fourth over. A mistimed drive saw him caught at first slip after smashing 12 runs off the medium pacer’s previous three balls.

Scott Henry only lasted six deliveries before being run out for one bringing Moises Henriques to the crease. The NSW Captain combined with Peter Nevill for 37 runs before being bowled by Michael Neser for 20.

Kurtis Patterson (8), fell to off spinner Jason Floros soon after, and when Nevill (43), became Floros’ second victim, NSW were 5-96 and the home side looked to be in control.

However a 91 run partnership between Ben Rohrer and Ryan Carters took the game away from the Queenslanders. When Rohrer was finally dismissed for 52, the Blues only needed three runs to win off 20 balls, which they did with 15 balls to spare.

Rohrer’s 52 was the only half century scored in the match and came off only 59 balls with seven fours, while Carters finished not out on 41 off 53 balls with four boundaries.

The win leaves NSW on top of the Matador Cup table, two points ahead of Queensland, who earned a bonus point in their demolition of Victoria on Friday. However Queensland will have the chance to regain top spot when the two teams meet again at the Gabba on Friday October 10 in a day/night fixture.

Scorecard

12th men: Milenko, S (QLD),Copeland, TA (NSW)

Umpires: Mealey, DB (AUS), Nogajski, SJ (AUS)

Match Refree: Talalla, D (AUS)

myFootDr Queensland Bulls: Usman Khawaja, Chris Hartley (wk), Joe Burns, Peter Forrest, Nathan Reardon, Jason Floros, Ben Cutting, James Hopes (c), Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Luke Feldman, Simon Milenko (12th)

NSW Blues: Peter Nevill (wk), Nic Maddinson, Scott Henry, Moises Henriques (c), Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Ryan Carters, Josh Lalor, Gurinder Sandhu, Josh Hazlewood, Doug Bollinger, Trent Copeland (12th)