Bulls maintain charge

Queensland has continued its strong run of performances at home, defeating Tasmania by 24 runs in a tight Ford Ranger Cup clash at the Gabba on Friday night.

The Bulls successfully defended their total of 9-233 through a combination of disciplined bowling and a deadly display of slick fielding, which saw Tasmania lose three wickets in the space of 15 balls when they needed to remain composed.

Nathan Rimmington was the standout bowler for the home side, finishing with figures of 3-25 from 9.3 overs, while Ben Cutting was efficient, finishing with superb figures of 2-54 from his 10.

Tasmanian captain George Bailey was the pick of the Tigers batsmen as his hand of 87 from 115 balls single-handedly dragged Tasmania back into the contest at vital stages of the game as the visitors crumbled under the consistent pressure from a high spirited Bulls attack.

After losing early wickets to be 4-73, the Tigers worked their way back into the game through a 91-run stand by Bailey and Luke Butterworth.

The game appeared to be turning in Tasmania's favour at the beginning of the third Powerplay when young Bulls' pace bowler Alister McDermott was clubbed for consecutive fours from Butterworth's blade.

But the contest was turned on its head as the son of former Australian great Craig McDermott pitched his next delivery up to Butterworth. The batsman gave himself room to loft the ball over the top of mid-off but Bulls' captain Chris Simpson launched himself into the night sky to take a magnificent catch, leaving Tasmania at 5-164.

Bailey took up where Butterworth left off as his smooth shot selection brought runs steadily for the visitors and gradually brought the Tigers closer to their target.

New partner Brendan Drew failed however to heed Bailey's call to remain in his crease and when Hartley hit the stumps with a direct throw, Tasmania was reeling at 6-165.

Jason Krejza's stay at the crease lasted just 5 deliveries as he fell victim to a supreme piece of fielding from Lee Carseldine, who turned and fired a shot back at the stumps in one motion, with Philipson on hand to dislodge the bails.

When James Faulkner holed out to Reardon in the deep the following over, the writing was on the wall for the Tigers.

Bailey tried in vain to lift his side over the line by increasing the tempo but his mistimed scoop shot on 87 proved his downfall. Xavier Doherty and Brett Geeves decision to lash out in the final three overs was brave but couldn't quite rescue the points for Tasmania.

Tasmania were placed on the back foot at the very beginning of their innings, courtesy of immaculate line and length bowling from the Bulls front line pace bowlers as the Tigers slumped to 2-17 after four overs.

Tasmania could ill afford another early wicket as Queensland set about to tease and frustrate the top order, with Ben Cutting and Nathan Rimmington combining immaculately to concede just eight runs combined from six overs, leaving Tasmania with a required run rate of five per over.

Tasmania was beginning to slowly chip away at the Bulls total before a comical mix up between Ed Cowan and his runner Jones left the latter stranded well short of the popping crease and the Tigers struggling at 3-61. Bad turned to worse for Tasmania shortly afterwards as promising middle order batman Travis Birt played onto his stumps, handing the visitors a mammoth task.

Earlier in the afternoon, a determined spin attack consisting of Jason Krejza and Xavier Doherty managed to restrict Queensland to 9-233 after an onslaught from in-form batsman Carseldine, who battered the Tigers pacemen around the park to end up with a quick fire 73 from 91 balls.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Queensland failed to capitalise on a strong partnership from the top order as the Tigers bowlers slowly strangled the life out of the home side, despite a late flurry of boundaries from Nathan Reardon who ended with 55 from 54 balls.

Queensland Innings
Broad b Doherty 39
Hartley c Jones b Faulkner 3
Carseldine b Drew 73
Reardon c & b Butterworth 55
Batticciotto c Bailey b Drew 1
Philipson c Jones b Faulkner 12
Simpson c Faulkner b Doherty 6
Cutting c Jones b Geeves 17
Rimmington c Geeves b Doherty 2
McDermott not out 2
Walter not out 0
Extras: 23 (3b, 5lb, 15w)
Total: 233 (9 wickets, 50 overs)

FOW: 1-4, 2-119, 3-137, 4-143, 5-157, 6-175, 7-201, 8-219, 9-231

Bowling
Geeves 9 - 1 - 73 -1
Faulkner 9 - 1 - 36 - 2
Drew 8 - 0 - 42 - 0
Krejza 10 - 1 - 22 - 0
Butterworth 4 - 0 - 27 - 1
Doherty 10 - 1 - 25 -3

Tasmania Innings
Dighton c Walter b Cutting 4
Jones run out 1
Cowan run out 23
Bailey
Birt b Cutting 6
Butterworth c Simpson b McDermott 43
Drew run out 0
Krejza run out 3
Faulkner c Reardon b Rimmington 1
Geeves not out 20
Doherty b Rimmington 1
Extras: 20 (3lb, 17w)
209 (10 wickets, 48.3 overs)

FOW: 1-4, 2-17, 3-61, 4-73, 5-164, 6-165, 7-173, 8-177, 9-200, 10-209

Bowling
Cutting 10 - 0 - 54 - 2
Rimmington 9.3 - 2 - 25 - 3
Walter 10 - 1 - 35 - 0
McDermott 9 - 0 - 56 - 1
Simpson 8 - 0 - 23 - 0
Philipson 1 - 0 - 5 - 0
Carseldine 1 - 0 - 8 - 0