TWENTY20 BIG BASH: QUEENSLAND SCRIPT 8-WICKET WIN OVER TASMANIA

Twenty20 Big Bash: Queensland script 8-wicket win over Tasmania

James Hopes’ quick half-century led Queensland to their first victory in this season’s Big Bash event. In the match played at Brisbane Cricket Ground, an all-round Bulls attack restricted Tasmania to a below par 20-overs total of 118 before the Queensland skipper blazed away with the bat to take his side home with just two wickets down.

James Hopes, the Queensland captain, won the toss and put the visitors in to bat first. The decision turned out to be correct as some tight bowling supported by an athletic fielding from Queensland squad kept the tourists under check right through their innings.

The Tasmania opener, Tim Paine – who has recently been appointed as Australian national team’s T20 vice captain – became the first victim of the day when Luke Feldman broke his stumps in the third over with only 11 on the board.

Paine’s dismissal took Rhett Lockyear to the crease and with opener Mark Cosgrove, the duo added 16 more runs to the scorecard before the former edged Ben Cutting to wicketkeeper Dunk behind the stumps. Lockyear scored 14 runs from 11 balls hitting three boundaries.

The tourists contributed to their own downfall with two careless and needless run outs. Tim Paine’s opening partner, Mark Cosgrove misjudged his hit to deep square leg as an outstanding direct hit from Michael Neser broke his stumps while Cosgrove was attempting a double. Travis Birt followed Cosgrove’s footsteps in the next over after Hopes’ throw caught him run out. Birt was soon followed back by Ryan ten Doeschate and Krejza as the Tigers faltered to 60 for 6 in the 12^th over.

Tasmania captain George Bailey tried to earn his side some respect with his 30-ball 37 hitting two sixes and a boundary. Bailey and James Faulkner buckled down to add 41 runs for the seventh wicket partnership and eased the nerves of the visitors. Faulkner piled up 24 runs from 23 balls including a boundary and a six.

Nathan Rimmington led the Bulls' bowling attack with 2 for 23 from his quota of 4 overs while rest of the bowlers, except Hopes, shared one wicket each.

The Bulls’ run chase went off to a shaky start, losing its openers in the first three overs with only 25 on the board. But, an in-form James Hopes, well complimented by Lee Carseldine, led the side to what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end with 37 balls to spare and eight wickets still intact. Hopes’ 44-ball 65 was laced with ten muscular boundaries and one six while Carseldine’s unbeaten 25 included three fours.