Bulls break one-day title drought
Queensland have notched their first one-day domestic title in nine seasons, with part-time off-spinner Aaron Nye taking three crucial wickets to guide the Bulls to a 21-run win over Victoria at the MCG.
Queensland, who also beat Victoria in last season's Pura Cup decider, had played in four losing one-day finals since winning the competition in 1997/98.
Captain Jimmy Maher's well-paced 108 helped Queensland set a formidable total of 5-274 after winning the toss.
The Bushrangers made 9-253 in reply, falling well short despite sparkling half-centuries from David Hussey (62) and all-rounder Andrew McDonald (65 not out).
Victoria made a solid start to their run-chase against some accurate opening bowling from Ashley Noffke and left-armer Scott Brant, with Michael Klinger (23), Jon Moss (26) and Rob Quiney (26) all making reasonable contributions without ever looking really dangerous.
But the Bulls were able to choke the Bushrangers' innings in the middle stages to make their task extremely difficult.
Maher was named man of the match but said while it was nice to score a century in a final, it did not mean it was any more special than other tons he had scored for his state.
"Any time you score a hundred for Queensland is a very special moment in any player's career," he said.
"They're all very good and you want to go out and score a hundred as many times as you can, so luckily I went out and got one today."
He said once Hussey was dismissed he felt the Bulls had their hands on the Cup.
"I thought it would be really hard for them to win without him there then, he had to basically bat to the 48th, 49th (over), possibly even right to the end for them to (win)," Maher said.
"I thought when we got him, obviously Whitey was already out, but it was going to be real tough."
It was the seventh straight season in which the away team has won the final.
Victoria had come into the final in better form, winning five straight matches, while Queensland's one-day form had been indifferent in recent weeks.
But Victorian skipper White said the Bulls clearly outplayed his side, with the inability of the Bushrangers' attack to break through Queensland's top order the most telling factor.
"We probably didn't get the early wickets we would have liked to get into their middle order," he said.
"So they played pretty well and we didn't bowl so well at the start, all in all a pretty disappointing result obviously."
Victoria was a solid 2-82 after 20 overs, but lost 2-37 in the next 10 overs.
Some tight bowling by pacemen Andy Bichel and James Hopes was followed up by some good work from off-spinners Chris Simpson and Nye.
Simpson, introduced in the 25th over, picked up Quiney's wicket, caught behind, with his second ball.
Nye dismissed danger man Cameron White for eight, caught in the deep on the legside in the 30th over.
It left the Bushrangers with a huge amount of work to do at 4-119 after 30 overs, needing 156 from the last 20 overs at 7.8 runs per over.
But with Hussey, who scored a century in Victoria's previous match, against Tasmania, still at the crease and looking impressive, the home side was still a chance.
Hussey hit three sixes off Simpson in four overs to force Maher to make a change and bring Hopes back into the attack.
Those big hits helped Hussey bring up his 50 in 59 balls.
McDonald played a valuable support hand, accumulating runs quickly and without fuss while Hussey did the big hitting and they produced an 82-run stand in 75 balls.
Maher persisted with Nye and it reaped rewards, despite Hussey hitting his fourth six of the innings, a straight hit off Nye's bowling, to bring up the 200 off the opening ball of the 42nd over.
At that stage, Victoria looked to be moving into contention, but four balls later Hussey smashed Nye straight to Maher at cover, with the captain pumping his fist in delight at removing the Bulls' biggest obstacle to victory.
Queensland made straightforward work of wrapping up the match, with Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite, Shane Harwood and Darren Pattinson all falling quickly.
Nye dismissed Crosthwaite to finish with 3-55 from 10 overs.
McDonald played a valiant lone hand amid the tumble of wickets to finish unbeaten on 65 from 64 balls.
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