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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NSW Blues win thriller against Queensland

The NSW Blues defeated the Queensland Bulls by five wickets on Friday for the second time in five days to remain undefeated and sit comfortably atop the Matador Cup table.

The win was set up by another solid display from the NSW bowlers, who for the third consecutive match bowled their opposition out inside their allotted 50 overs.

NSW’s Doug Bollinger was named man of the match finishing with figures of 3-30, although perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the Blues bowling was the return of Pat Cummins to the side. Cummins took 3-60 in his first match for the Blues for almost three years in a promising first up performance, for both NSW and Australia.

A mix up between Usman Khawaja and Chris Hartley led to the loss of the Bulls first wicket. Image courtesy: David Hardenberg Getty Images

For the second time in as many matches Queensland won the toss and elected to bat first on a typically hard and green Gabba wicket.

The Queensland opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Chris Hartley began solidly, although runs were proving hard to come by. At the end of the 10th over, the Bull’s openers had only managed two boundaries to reach 39 without loss of a wicket.

The next 10 overs produced much of the same. While the NSW bowlers were able to limit the Bulls scoring, they were unable to break the partnership. However a mix up between the batsmen in the 20th over saw Khawaja (37), left high and dry by his partner and he was run out with the score on 72.

That opening partnership proved to be the only one that passed 50, as except for Simon Milenko (54 off 39), the rest of the Queensland batsmen struggled against the NSW attack. Hartley (50), also scored a half century although it was a laboured affair coming off 100 balls, while Peter Forrest and Ben Cutting were the only other batsmen to pass 20.

For the Blues both Bollinger (3-33), and Cummins (3-60), took three wickets each, while Josh Hazelwood continued his impressive run of form with 2-48.

Peter Nevill on his way to 74. Image coutesy Chris Hyde Getty Images

Needing 244 for victory, the Blues got off to a good start reaching 38 in the seventh over before Nic Maddinson (18 off 19), holed out to fine leg off the bowling of Peter George. His dismissal brought Scott Henry (30 off 65), to the crease who although never looking comfortable, combined with Peter Nevill (74 off 92), in an 85 run stand which saw the Blues at 2-123 in the 17th over and firmly in control of the match.

Henry was out 11 runs later, before a 58 run partnership between NSW Captain Moises Henriques (36 off 42), and Kurt Patterson (50 no off 52), brought the Blues to within sight of victory.

However the Bulls would not let NSW get away, and two late wickets to Luke Feldman (2-38), saw the Blues needing 10 runs to win off the final over with five wickets in hand, and Patterson and Ben Rohrer at the crease.

The first ball of the over was full and wide of off stump and Ben Cutting watched on despondently as Patterson whipped the ball over the square leg boundary for six. A single off the next ball put Rohrer on strike, who found a gap through mid-wicket sealing the Blues third win of the series so far.

The win puts NSW six points ahead of Queensland on the Matador Cup table, giving them a great chance of taking out the tournament as all their remaining matches will be played in Sydney.

Their next match will be against the Victorian Bushrangers at North Sydney Oval on October 12. The Blues will go into the game firm favourites, as Victoria’s only win from their three starts was against the Redbacks who sit firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table, having lost all three matches they have played in.

Highlights

Scorecard

12th men: Lalor, JK (NSW),Floros, JS (QLD)

Umpires: Davidson, GJ (AUS), Martell, MD (AUS)

Third Umpire: Wilds, T (AUS)

Match Refree: Talalla, D (AUS)

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

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