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XXXX GOLD Sheffield Shield |
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Round - Opposition - Date, Venue |
Result |
Scores |
Pts |
| Rd 1 - Queensland v Victoria Gabba, 11-14 October, 2011 |
Won Outright by 66 runs |
Qld 355 & 9-243 (dec) |
Qld 6 |
| Snapshot: Andrew Robinson led a superb all-round team performance from the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls as they opened the 2011-12 Bupa Sheffield Shield season with a 66-run win over the Victorian Bushrangers. Man of the Match Robinson posted two half-centuries and became the first Queensland fieldsman to take seven catches in a Shield match as the home side won a thriller with 21 balls to spare. Chasing 301 from a minimum 81 overs, Victoria were well-placed at 3-179, with Rob Quiney (109) and Glenn Maxwell (32) well set. But, in a delight for cricketing purists, leg-spinner Cameron Boyce (4-78) joined speedster Steve Magoffin (3-42) in destroying the Bushrangers in a final session in which they lost 7-55. Earlier Queensland, who had lost batting mainstays James Hopes and Chris Lynn 24 hours out from the start, had set the match up when they posted 355 after being sent in. Robinson (78) led the way, with a string of useful contributions from Ryan Broad (32), Nathan Reardon (49), acting captain Chris Hartley (41) and Ben Cutting (41). Victoria made 298 in reply after looking set to take first innings points at 2-167 on the back of fine hands from Chris Rogers (72) and debutant Peter Handscomb (71). But Cutting, proving he had put behind him the injury problems of the previous season, bowled with real pace and venom to lead the Queensland attack with 4-50. Magoffin, a home-grown product making a belated debut for Queensland after seven years with the West Australian Warriors, impressed with 2-71, while Scott Walter (2-70) and Boyce (2-57) also played their part. Robinson (51) battled well again in the second innings, but it was NSW import Peter Forrest, in his first game for the Bulls, who played the key hand. He posted 101 from 210 balls, with 13 fours, to pilot the home side to 9-243 (dec). Quiney led a sterling chase early before the Bushrangers collapsed for the second time in the match. Fittingly, Robinson's sure hands grabbed the last wicket off Boyce after final pair Ryan Carters and Darren Pattinson had defied the Queenslanders for more than 10 overs as the light started to fade. Robinson took five second innings catches in the slips for a match total of seven to better the previous best by a Queensland fieldsman by ex-captain Jimmy Maher and JF Shepperd, who posted the original mark in 1914-15 even before Queensland were added to the Sheffield Shield competition. | |||
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Rd 2 - Queensland v Tasmania |
Won Outright by |
Qld 287 d |
Qld 6 |
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Scorecard: Ryan Harris captured a career-best 7-60 in the second innings to pilot the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls to an innings victory over the Tasmanian Tigers at the Gabba and jump to the top of the Bupa Sheffield Shield ladder. The home side triumphed by an innings and 28 runs after knocking over the defending Shield champions for 129 and 130 inside four sessions to win before lunch on day three. Harris, in his last hit-out before flying out to South Africa with the Australian Test team, was positively lethal as he destroyed the Tigers to finish with career-best match figures of 9-83. This gave the Bulls a 2-0 start to the Shield season to replicate their 2-0 start to the Ryobi Cup one-day series. As he reflected on a brilliant performance, Bulls coach Darren Lehmann would have put a high worth on the day one batting of openers Wade Townsend and Ryan Broad after captain Chris Hartley won the toss. They shared a 150-run opening stand which would prove more than the entire Tasmanian side could muster in either innings. Townsend, recalled to the side to replace the injured Andrew Robinson, made the most of his opportunity with a patient 82 off 194 balls (11 fours), while Broad hit three fours and two sixes in his 57 off 143 balls. It was the third-highest batting partnership for Queensland against Tasmania behind only Andrew Courtice and Rob Kerr's massive 331-run union in 1984-85 and the Trevor Barsby-Matthew Hayden combination's 178 in 1992-93. Lehman would not have been pleased when his side lost 9-96 and had to rely on a 41-run stand for the last weekend between Cam Boyce (26no) and Steve Magoffin (15) to reach to 287, but in the end it was more than enough. Steve Paulsen made a useful 33 in his first Shield bat in almost six years, while Ben Hilfenhaus (4-57) and Luke Butterworth (3-54) were the pick of the Tasmanian bowlers. The visitors didn't bat 50 overs in their first innings as only Alex Doolan (26) and George Bailey (28) reached 20 against a relentless Queensland pace attack led by Ben Cutting (3-24), Harris (2-23) and Magoffin (2-27), with career-best support from part-timer Nathan Reardon (3-14). Hartley didn't hesitate to enforce the follow-on in the final session of day two, and was delighted when the visitors slumped to 5-66 by stumps, having lost 15 wickets in the day. Harris had three wickets overnight and took four of the five to fall on day three on route to his 7-60. Only Jason Krejza's 43no prolonged the inevitable Magoffin (1-7) Cutting (1-33) and Reardon (1-20) completed a strong support crew to the rampant Harris and Hartley finished with eight catches for the match. Sadly, though, Magoffin finished with an Achilles problem which would see him join an already extensive Bulls injury list. |
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| Rd 3 - Queensland v Western Australia WACA, 1-4 November, 2011 |
Won Outright by 194 runs |
Qld 273 & 9-341 (dec) |
Qld 6 |
| Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls completed a perfect three-from-three start to the Bupa Sheffield Shield season when they beat the WA Warriors by 194 runs at the WACA. It was Queensland's equal biggest winning margin against WA, and their biggest in Perth, surpassing the 161-run win in the 1996-97 Shield final, and put Queensland on top of the Shield ladder with 18 points 10 clear of second-placed WA. It was a win most notable for centuries from man of the match Ryan Broad and Peter Forrest, a fine 90no from Steve Paulsen, and an outstanding team bowling performance headed by debutant Matthew Gale and Ben Cutting. Sent in on day one, the Bulls made 273 thanks chiefly to Paulsen's 90no from 119 balls, with 15 fours. Opener Wade Townsend (37) and No.3 Joe Burns (55) made useful contributions at the top of the order, but thereafter it was all Paulsen as he became just the fourth Queenslander to finish unbeaten in the 90s in just his second Shield game. The Bulls slumped from 1-71 to 6-162 before Nathan Reardon (26) and Cutting (24) helped Paulsen mount an important rearguard action against a WA attack led by career-best figures from all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (6-84). WA, 3-71 in reply at stumps on day one, were rolled for 221 in their first innings, with 'keeper Michael Johnson (53) top-scoring at No.7. Gale was superb on debut, finishing with 4-93 off 17 overs after becoming the 20th player to capture a wicket for Queensland in his first over when he dismissed Liam Davis to a sharp Forrest catch at slip. Alister McDermott took 3-36 in 12 overs in his first Shield game of the summer, while Cutting returned 2-51 off 15.1 overs and an economical Cam Gannon 1-31 off 16. Queensland made 9-341 in their second innings, batting into the first session on day four after rain cut heavily into day three. Broad topped 3000 first-class runs when he reached 17 and hammered 25 fours in his 135 off 225 balls his eighth fourth class century. Forrest hit 14 fours and four sixes in his 132no from 250 balls his second ton in three matches for Queensland and his fifth first-class century overall. So, WA were set 393 in 94 overs to win. They were never in the hunt despite a fine hand from opener Marcus Harris (91no), who batted through the innings. They crashed to 7-90 and 9-151 before a 50-run stand between Harris and Matt Dixon for the last wicket at least prolonged the inevitable. Cutting had 5-19 at one stage as he destroyed the top order, and finished with 5-43 from 14 overs. Gale (2-45) completed a six-wicket debut, while Gannon (2-35) and McDermott (1-59) played a fine support role once again as the Bulls won with a session to spare. | |||
| Rd 4 - Queensland v New South Wales Gabba, 15-18 November, 2011 |
Won Outright by 14 runs |
Qld 282 & 218 |
Qld 6 |
| Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls made it four wins from four games in the 2011-12 Bupa Sheffield Shield competition with a heart-stopping outright victory over New South Wales at the Gabba. Welcoming the return from injury of captain James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Chris Swan and Luke Feldman, the Bulls prevailed outright by 14 runs after taking first innings points by just five runs in a thrilling contest. It was an arm-wrestle in which the respective team totals got smaller as the match went on, every run was critical, and more runs were scored by the lesser known batsmen. There were no centuries and no five-wicket hauls, but plenty of heroes. And none more so than Queensland quick Ben Cutting. Described during the match by Courier-Mail cricket writer Ben Dorries as 'the best fast bowler in Australia', he was man of the match after a personal-best 58 with the bat and two fine bowling efforts. Batting first after winning the toss, Queensland were struggling at 6-159 after only Wade Townsend (50 off 163) fired in the top order. But an 86-run stand for the seventh wicket between Chris Hartley (41 off 77) and Cutting (58 off 51, eight fours, two sixes) helped them to 282. Doug Bollinger (4-69) and Mitchell Starc (5-66) did the damage with the ball for the Blues. The NSW innings had a similar look when they fell to 6-142 after Tim Cruickshank (52) and Steve Smith (47) got a start without going on. Henriques (42) and Nevill (69) added 54 for the seventh wicket but at 9-244 they were still well behind Queensland's first innings total. Then Nevill and Josh Hazlewood put on 53 from 70 balls for the 10th wicket to bridge the gap to just six before the free-swinging Nevill cut Cutting to Boyce at third man to give the Bulls first innings points. Cutting (3-54 off 16.2 overs), Boyce (3-23 off 11) and Swan (3-78 off 22) were the major wicket-takers for the home side, while Hopes (1-45 off 21) bowled tightly. The NSW attack lost Bollinger to a hamstring injury early in Queensland's second innings, but still the home side needed Hopes (72) to lead a rescue mission after they'd crashed to 5-97. Hopes shared half-century partnerships with Hartley and Cutting, but when they lost 4-11 to be all out for 218 it was an even as it could get. O'Keefe (4-66 off 34 overs) led his side's attack, while Henriques (3-50), Starc (2-51) and Hazelwood (1-28 off 15) helped cover for Bollinger's absence. NSW, chasing 224 for victory, were 3-28 overnight heading into the final day and quickly found themselves at 7-85. Nobody in the top six had reached double figures until yet another rally had the game on a knife's edge. Henriques (22) and Nevill (35) put on 76 for the seventh wicket, Neville and O'Keefe (82 from 81, nine fours, two sixes) put on 80 for the eighth wicket, and then O'Keefe and Hazelwood added 34 for the ninth wicket to see the visitors at 8-209. Boyce bowled Hazelwood before Cutting struck the decisive final blow when he had the free-swinging O'Keefe caught behind. Cutting (4-34), Swan (2-29), Boyce (2-34), Feldman (1-45) and Hopes (1-50) got the job done for the Bulls, as they completed an equal record 4-0 start for the first time since 2005-06. | |||
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Rd 5 - Queensland v South Australia |
Won Outright by 4 wickets |
Qld 3-350 (dec) & 6-260 d |
Qld 6 |
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Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls continued their astonishing start to the 2011-12 Bupa Sheffield Shield season with a four-wicket outright win over the South Australian Redbacks. The Bulls' willingness to risk defeat in pursuit of victory produced a stirring finish to a match which finished at 7.18pm local time on day four. Day one was restricted to 30 overs' play by first rain and then bad light, but Bulls coach Darren Lehmann was true to his promise to chase down any target set by the Redbacks. Set 260 in 64 overs on the final day, Queensland got home with four wickets and 15 balls to spare to establish a commanding lead on the Shield table. With all teams having played five games, Queensland have the maximum possible 30 points to lead WA (14), Tasmania (14), Victoria (10), NSW (8) and SA (2). It was a superb team performance from the Bulls led by opening batsman and Man of the Match Wade Townsend and bowling tyros Matthew Gale and Cam Boyce. SA were 4-75 at stumps on day one but reached 9-349 declared on day two thanks chiefly to Michael Klinger (93) and Brisbane Heat signing Dan Christian (108). Gale, in just his second first-class match, finished with 5-81 from 26.4 to head the Bulls attack. Townsend made a magnificent 166no from 379 balls, with 17 fours and one six, as Queensland replied with 3-350. Peter Forrest, too, continued his fine season with 94 from 182 balls (13 fours, one six), while Chris Lynn added 39no to ensure the visitors took first innings points late on day three. SA were 1-26 at stumps on day three, and if an outright result was improbable two days earlier it looked downright impossible with a day to play. But the Bulls grabbed full points after an astonishing day in which 494 runs were scored and 14 wickets fell in 107.3 overs. SA posted 9-260 in their second innings, with Christian (49), Callum Ferguson (62) and Adam Crosthwaite (54) ensuring there would be no easy chase despite Boyce's second five-wicket haul at first-class level. The emerging leg-spinner picked up 5-110 from 18 overs in a fine display as the Redbacks set the Bulls 260 to win from a maximum 64 overs. Bulls skipper James Hopes elevated himself to the top of the order and set the tone for the chase with a power-hitting 32 off 24 balls. Thereafter, Joe Burns (74 from 125 balls, seven fours) provided the foundation around which the innings was built, while Townsend (37), Lynn (39) and Chris Hartley (31 off 32) also played important hands. So, SA were left winless at the bottom of the Shield table, and Queensland had established such a lead at the top that a home final was starting to look more probable than possible. At the halfway mark of the season Townsend (430 runs at 53.75) and Forrest (429 at 53.63) ranked sixth and seventh on the Shield run-scoring list, and Ben Cutting, despite missing the clash with SA due to Australia 'A' selection, was third on the wicket-taking list with 23 at 14.63. Boyce was sixth with 17 wickets at 23.88. Hartley was a runaway leader in the 'keeping dismissals, having gloved 32 catches and made two stumpings to sit 13 dismissals clear of next best. |
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| Round 6 - Queensland v Victoria MCG, 2-5 December 2011 |
Match Drawn |
Vic 7-498 (dec) & 3-196 (dec) |
Vic 2 |
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Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls fell an agonising one run short of what would have been one of the most remarkable victories in Sheffield Shield history in an epic contest at the MCG. The scorebook shows the match finished in a draw, but does not reflect the astonishing final day drama in which the Bulls went from near-certain losers to near-certain winners before scores eventually finished level on the last ball. Chasing 400 for outright points after they trailed by 203 on the first innings, the Bulls reached 5-385 after magnificent centuries from Joe Burns and Peter Forrest. They needed just 15 from five overs with five wickets in hand, but they lost 4-13 in 25 balls, and when No.11 Luke Feldman walked to the wicket to face the last ball of the match the Queenslanders needed two to win. Feldman clipped it into the off side and scampered through for a single with batting partner teammate Ben Cutting as the Bulls finished at 9-399, denying the Bushrangers the last wicket they needed for full points. So, after a 5-0 start to the Bupa Shield season the Bulls finished without any points while Victoria took two points for the first innings win. Ironically, if Feldman and Cutting had tried to get through for a second run that could have been the winner and either batsman was dismissed the match would have ended in a tie and each side would have got three points. Still, it was one to remember especially for Man of the Match Burns, who scored 59 and 123 in an experimental Shield match in which play started each day at 12noon Melbourne time.Batting first after winning the toss, Victoria amassed 7-498 (declared) thanks chiefly to Dave Hussey (130), Rob Quiney (87), Chris Rogers (62), Andrew McDonald (87) and Glenn Maxwell (65). The Queensland attack was severely depleted when pace spearhead Cutting, a late inclusion after being named 12th man for the Gabba Test against New Zealand, broke down on day one with a side strain. He bowled only nine overs for the match. Matthew Gale (2-122), Feldman (1-110), Cam Boyce (1-102) and part-timer Nathan Reardon (2-99) carried the load. In reply Queensland made 295, with Burns (59) and Forrest (37) setting things up in the top order before Chris Hartley (62) and Boyce (57) added 88 for the ninth wicket. It was Boyce's personal best first-class score. Victoria scored 3-196 (dec) in their second innings, with Aaron Finch (82) and Hussey (76no) allowing the home side to set Queensland a chase of 400 in 107 overs. They were 1-35 at stumps on day three before setting out on a beautifully measured chase aided at times by some poor Victorian catching. Wade Townsend (46) and Chris Lynn (29) helped Burns lay a solid platform and at tea, with Forrest in fine touch, the Queenslanders were on track at 4-237. Forrest and Hartley added 126 for the sixth wicket to steer them to within 15 runs of victory, but Hartley fell in the 103rd over, Boyce in the 104th and Forrest in the 106th looking to hit a six to tie the scores. The visitors needed four off the final over, to be bowled by Jayde Herrick, the leading wicket-taker in the Shield competition at the time. Gale missed the first ball and took a single to mid-on from the second. Three to win. Cutting missed the third ball and raced through for a bye on the fourth as the Bushrangers messed up what should have been a simple run out. Two to win. Gale was beaten for pace and clean bowled on the fifth ball, sending Feldman in to face the last ball which ultimately cost Queensland a share of the greatest start ever to a Shield season by any side. Herrick (3-105) and spinner Maxwell (2-38) did the damage late for the Victorians after Clint McKay (2-88) had bowled well earlier in the innings. Forrest had reached his third century of the Shield season from 117 balls and his 115 came from 132 balls with 10 fours and a six. It took his season aggregate to 581 runs and top spot on the Shield run-scoring list ahead of teammate Townsend. Burns scored his 123 from 198 balls and hit 12 fours and one six in a more circumspect hand that set things up for the batsmen who followed. |
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| Round 7 - Queensland v Western Australia Gabba, 6-9 February, 2012 |
Lost Outright by 1 wicket |
WA 259 & 9-68 d |
WA 6 |
| Snapshot: Alistair McDermott produced one of the best individual bowling performances by a Queenslander all-time and yet walked away a loser after an astonishing post-Christmas resumption to the Bupa Sheffield Shield competition at the Gabba. Sadly, not even his astonishing second innings effort of 7-24 could stop the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls going down to the WA Warriors by one wicket in a cliff-hanger. Having starred for the Brisbane Heat in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League over the holiday period the 20-year-old redhead was quickly into stride with the red ball and all but bowled the Bulls to what would have been a miraculous win. Set a meagre 68 for outright points on the final day, the Warriors crashed to 9-64 before Michael Hogan hit two twos to get his side home with one wicket to spare. McDermott finished with second innings figures of 10-3-24-7. It was the 10th best single innings effort ever for Queensland and the 7th-best in Shield history. And it was the best by a bowler aged 21 or younger. The only bowlers to have captured eight or more wickets in a first-class innings for Queensland have been Peter Allan (10-61 in 1965-66), Richard Wilson (8-35 in 1896-97), Craig McDermott (8-44 in 1989-90), Michael Kasprowicz (8-44 in 2005-06), Charles Barstow (8-51 inn 1910-11), Mick Polzin (8/-51 in 1989-90), Ross Duncan (8-55 in 1970-71), Percy Hornibrook (8-60 in 1921-22) and Brian Flynn (8-145 in 1953-54). Of those Hornibrook was the youngest at 22 years 132 days. McDermott was 20 years 247 days as he almost masterminded a freakish Queensland victory. He captured the first seven wickets of the WA second innings, striking in his 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th overs. Moving the ball nicely off the wicket, he had four batsmen caught by 'keeper Chris Hartley or in the slips, and one more lbw. And had Ryan Broad not dropped a simple catch at slip off what turned out to be McDermott's last ball of the match he would have had even better figures, and would have topped his illustrious father on the all-time bowling list. It was a match which WA dominated for all but the last hour. They held the home side to 251 in their first innings after Hartley, leading the side in the absence of Australian one-day selection Peter Forrest, won the toss Only Chris Lynn (80) and Wade Townsend (54) offered lasting resistence as Nathan Coulter-Nile (4-66) did the late damage to take the figures after ex-Queenslander Nathan Rimmington (3-63) bowled well early. WA were 4-250 at stumps on day two one run behind and finished with a lead of 118 after reaching 369 on day three. Shaun Marsh, so dreadfully out of touch during the Test series against India in December/January, top-scored with 79, while Liam Davis (68) also batted well. Ben Cutting, making a long-awaited return from injury, ran through the bottom half of the WA line-up to finish with 5-99 from 22 overs. Joe Burns (43) top-scored as Queensland were rolled for 175 in their second innings, crashing from 4-126 as Rimmington captured 3-28. It looked a formality but McDermott and Cutting had other ideas. After McDermott banished the first seven batsmen Cutting sent back Coulter-Nile and Michael Beer to consecutive balls in the 20th over before Hogan hit the two shots that got the job done. Only Shaun Marsh (12) and Adam Voges (18) reached double-figures among the specialist batsmen, and ironically it was Rimmington's 16no off 17balls at No.8 that got the Warriors over the line. | |||
| Round 8 - Queensland v Tasmania Hobart, 17-20 February 2012 |
Lost Outright by 8 wickets |
Tas 260 & 2-163 d |
Tas 6 |
| Snapshot: A magnificent batting double from fast bowler Ben Cutting was not enough to spare the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls from an eight-wicket loss to the Tasmanian Tigers at Blundstone Arena. Batting at No.9, Cutting scored 79no and 66no in what otherwise was a disappointing double effort with the bat by a side that desperately missed Australian one-day call-up Peter Forrest. It cost the Bulls dearly as Test opener Ed Cowan steered them to a comfortable win on the morning of day four. This meant that for the first time in the 2011-12 season the Bulls surrendered top spot on the Bupa Sheffield Shield ladder. WA jumped clear on 32 points after a massive win over NSW, while Queensland (30) held second ahead of Tasmania (28) and Victoria (24). Queensland were up against it from the outset when Tasmanian captain George Bailey won the toss and put the visitors in on a seaming wicket. They crashed to 8-89, with only Joe Burns (43) offering any sort of lasting resistence in the top order. It took Cutting and last pair Steve Magoffin (17) and Alister McDermott (13) to see them to 205, with Cutting scoring his 79no from 84 balls, with 52 runs in boundaries via seven fours and four sixes. Man of the Match Jackson Bird led the Tasmanian attack with 6-62 from 22 overs. In reply Tasmania made 260 thanks chiefly to Cowan (82) and Mark Cosgrove (67). Cutting (3-73) and McDermott (3-48) were the leading wicket-takers for the Bulls. Sadly, the Queenslanders were quickly in trouble again with the bat, crashing to 6-71 and 8-118. The last three batsmen came to the rescue again, with Magoffin (24) and McDermott (7) joining Cutting in taking the score to 215 and a lead of 160. Cutting scored his 66no from 83 balls, this time with 46 in boundaries from seven fours and three sixes, as Luke Butterworth (4-45) and Bird (3-71) did the damage with the ball for the Tigers. It was never going to be enough. Bailey, who had set out day three of the match on the Sunday while serving as the standby batsman for the Australian ODI team in the Gabba, returned to score 57no and join Cowan (77no) in taking Tasmania to 2-163. | |||
| Round 9 - Queensland v NSW SCG, 1-4 March 2012 |
Match Drawn |
NSW 269 & 0-15 |
NSW 2 |
| Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls were left in a four-way dogfight for a spot in the BUPA Sheffield Shield final after going home empty-handed from a rain-interrupted clash with the NSW Blues at the SCG. Only 175.4 overs were bowled in the match, with day two washed out entirely, as the Blues took first innings points to ensure they would avoid the wooden-spoon. Not even a superb bowling spell from Steve Magoffin and an equally outstanding solo batting effort from Joe Burns could get Queensland the two competition points that were so critical. Magoffin took 6-44 from 25 overs as the Blues, cruising at 4-218, were dismissed for 269. Phil Hughes cracked 15 boundaries as he top-scored for NSW with 71 off 121 after they were sent in by Queensland skipper James Hopes, while Simon Katich (42) and Steve Smith (53) also made useful contributions. Ryan Harris (3-98 off 27 overs) also bowled well for the visitors, doing the damage on day one when some poor catching proved costly. The Queenslanders, with opener Alex Kemp (6) missing out on debut after replacing Ryan Broad, were doing it nicely at 2-87. Wade Townsend (31) and Andy Robinson (34) got a start without going on, but when Chris Lynn fell to a full toss and Hopes holed out to a long hop it all came down to Burns. It was 8-177 when Harris (25no off 31) walked to the wicket, but a 59-run stand with Burns had them within striking distance. NSW quick Scott Coyte had other ideas, ending a defiant hand from Burns with one that jumped off a length before clean bowling Magoffin next ball. NSW won by 33 runs on the first innings and were 0-15 when bad light and rain brought an early end. Burns, looking every bit a class player, made 90 off 174 balls, with nine fours, to go to the top of Queensland's 2011-12 Shield run-scoring list with 615 at 38.4. Trent Copeland was the pick of the NSW bowlers with 4-69. So, with a round to play, Western Australia led the competition with 34 points, with Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria each on 30. | |||
| Round 10 - Queensland v South Australia Gabba, 8-10 March, 2012 |
Won Outright by |
Qld 356 d SA 162 & 103 |
Qld 6 |
| Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD won the right to host the 2011-12 Bupa Sheffield Shield final with a powerhouse innings victory over South Australia at the Gabba inside three days as the domestic four-day competition reached a thrilling climax. A magnificent century from Man of the Match Joe Burns and a similarly outstanding team bowling performance saw the Bulls into the 19th Shield final and their 9th at home. They finished level with Tasmania and Victoria on 36 points but secured homeground advantage for the decider on the basis of six outright wins. Tasmania and Victoria each had five outrights, but Tasmania grabbed the second spot in the final via their superior net run rate. Western Australia, who went into the final round of matches on top of the table on 34 points, were beaten by Tasmania in Hobart, while Victoria did likewise to NSW in Melbourne. It was an anxious Queensland side that went in the final qualifying match knowing they only had to win outright to host the final providing WA didn't get full points in Hobart, but there was another complicating factor. And not just the late withdrawal of leading wicket-taker Ben Cutting through injury. Brisbane had been in the middle of a period of heavy rain, and there were concerns that the elements would deny the Bulls. It wasn't to be, but Queensland skipper James Hopes had no hesitation in putting the wooden-spooners in on an under-prepared Gabba strip. They grabbed the upper hand on the first morning and never surrendered it. SA lost 5-3 to be 9-107 and only a 55-run stand for the last wicket between top-scoring No.10 Gary Putland (31no) and No.11 Peter George (22) saw them to 162. Hopes (3-28 from 18 overs), Ryan Harris (2-29 from 18.3), Steve Magoffin (2-33) and Alister McDermott (2-41) bowled beautifully in favourable conditions. Burns, looking every bit an international player of the future, was the backbone of the Queensland innings, taking 130 off 240 balls and striking 15 fours and one six in his second century of the season. He shared two century stands which in the end ensured the home side was never going to be beaten. Burns and second-gamer Alex Kemp (47) added 119 for the third wicket before Burns and 'keeper Chris Hartley (68) added 120 for the sixth wicket. Even Magoffin (46no) and McDermott (22) got in on the fun their own 54-run partnership for the last wicket as Putland (6-72 from 30 overs) led the SA attack. The Redbacks, trailing by 194 runs on the first innings, never looked like making the Bulls bat again. Only Tom Cooper (49) reached 20 as the quicks did the job again. McDermott (4-35) finished with the best figures but it was Harris (2-20 off 19), Hopes (2-9 off 12) and Magoffin (2-27 off 16) who choked the resistence out of the visitors. In total they bowled 25 maidens as SA scored at 1.59 runs per over in a second innings of 103 in 64.4 overs. Burns masterful hand saw him finish 8th on the Shield run-scoring list at the end of the qualifying rounds with 745 at 43.8, while Wade Townsend (603 at 37l7) and Peter Forrest (581 at 58.1) ranked 10th and 11th. Hartley was next best with 414 runs at 25.9. Cutting topped the Queensland wicket-taking list with 36 at 18.8 and finished fourth overall, while McDermott, who played only four games, was next best for Queensland with 21 wickets at 17.1, ahead of Magoffin, who picked up 20 wickets at 16.9 in his three games. Cameron Boyce, who bowled only 10 overs against SA after returning to the side at the expense of Jason Floros, finished with 19 wickets at 34.0 and Harris 17 wickets at 13.9. Hartley grabbed three second innings catches to finish with 56 dismissals for the season more than double that of the next best 'keeper and only three shy of the single-season record of 59 owned by ex-Queensland gloveman Wade Seccombe with the final to play. Townsend, with 11 catches, ranked 5th overall ahead of Forrest, who played only six games, and Andrew Robinson (10). | |||
| Final - Queensland v Tasmania Gabba, 16-19 March, 2012 |
Won Outright by 3 wickets |
Qld 276 & 7-133 d Tas 241 & 167 |
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Snapshot: The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls captured their seventh Sheffield Shield title in drama-charged circumstances at the Gabba, beating the Tasmanian Tigers by three wickets after being 7-88 chasing 133 for victory. It was a magnificent Bupa Shield final, fluctuating throughout under questionable skies before eventually being decided on the afternoon of day four by the batting heroics of Man of the Match Chris Hartley and Bulls No.9 Steve Magoffin. This pair did it not once but twice, rescuing the home side with a record 97-run stand in the first innings to ensure a handy first innings lead, and then putting on an unbroken 45-run stand to get the Bulls over the line just when Tasmania looked to be in the driver's seat. But there were plenty of other heroes. Alister McDermott and captain James Hopes each picked up five-wicket hauls for Queensland, while Steve Cazzulino and Ed Cowan played lone hands with the bat for Tasmania. Queensland, with Peter Forrest on international duties in the West Indies, went into the match without Ben Cutting, who had been runner-up to Tasmania's Jackson Bird for the 2011-12 Shield Player of the Year. Having missed the final qualifying game with a groin injury Cutting went to the extreme measure of having his own blood injected into the injury in the hope it would speed up his recovery, but in the end the selectors chose a no-risks policy. Tasmania, with Ben Hilfenhaus, George Bailey and Xavier Doherty in the Windies but strengthened by the inclusion of Ricky Ponting, lost Mark Cosgrove to a broken hand and included Tom Triffitt at the expense of Brody Jones after he'd missed the second half of the season with injury. Ponting, captaining Tasmania as they looked to defend the title they'd won 12 months earlier, won the toss under cloudly skies and chose to bat first. It was a real grind, with the ball moving around appreciably almost too much at times for the Queensland bowlers. By stumps the visitors had ground their way to 6-208 from 90 overs. They had reached 1-138 due to the efforts of openers Cazzulino (68) and Cowan (33), and No.3 Alex Doolan, but after Cam Boyce removed Cowan McDermott picked up four of the next five wickets, including the prize scalp of Ponting plus the defiant Cazzulino, who was sixth man out. It was day one to Queensland, and it continued that way early on day two. The Tigers' collapse continued and after their excellent start they lost 9-103 to be all out for 241. McDermott finished with the magnificent figures of 6-54 from 24.5 overs. Magoffin, significantly inconvenienced by back spasms early in Tasmania's first innings, returned 2-31 off 22 overs to offer fine support with Ryan Harris (0-71 off 30), Hopes (1-42 off 23) and Boyce (1-35 off 8). Harris, too, grabbed three catches at first slip, while 'keeper Hartley gloved two to equal the record for most dismissals in a season. But quickly things turned against the home side. Only Joe Burns (28) looked comfortable among the top order, and it was 5-55 when Hartley, carrying a heavy dose of the flu, went to the wicket. He and Hopes began the rear guard action with an 89-run stand before the departure of a counter-punching Hopes (58). Harris (18) made a useful contribution before the resilient Hartley and the inventive Magoffin turned the entire match around. They'd steered the Bulls to 5-139 when stumps were called early due to rain and bad light at 4.30pm. After it looked like the home side would trail on the first innings they grabbed a useful 35-run lead on the morning of day three. Magoffin scored 31 off 74 balls (four fours) to provide sterling support to the pugnacious Hartley. Playing in his fifth Shield final, Hartley was nothing short of magnificent after he was dropped at 6. Mixing resolute defence and powerful concentration with some brilliant cuts, drives and pulls, he was last man out after posting his sixth Shield century and becoming the third 'keeper to score a century in a Shield final behind Adam Gilchrist (WA) and Sean Clingleffer (Tasmania). In the end his came off 169 balls and included 17 fours. Bird (4-56), Luke Butterworth (4-54) and James Faulkner (2-64) shared the spoils for the Tigers while Triffitt grabbed six catches a record in an innings of a Shield final. The Tasmanian second innings began after lunch on day three and they were quickly in diabolical strife, effectively 4-1 with Magoffin, ex-Queenslander Nick Kruger, Ponting and Faulkner already out. Hopes handed a disconsolate Ponting his second failure when he clean bowled the ex-Test skipper with his first ball of the innings. Triffitt (35) added 51 for the fifth wicket with the resolute Cowan, but by stumps Triffitt and Doolan, batting at No.7 due to a back injury, were gone and Tasmania were 6-136 when the elements again intervened at 4.45pm. They were 101 runs ahead with only four wickets in hand, and when Hopes removed Butterworth (23) and the resolute Cowan (71) in the first nine over of day four momentum was all with the Queenslanders. Hopes finished with 5-61 off 20 overs, his sixth five-wicket haul, while Harris (3-52 from 20 overs), Magoffin (1-13 from 12), McDermott (1-36 from 8) and Andrew Robinson (4 slips catches) also played their part. So, Queensland were set 133 to win. Alex Kemp went early but Robinson (31) and Townsend (39) took the total to 67. Just 66 to win. Robinson fell at 2-67 before Townsend and Burns took the score to 83. Eight wickets in hand and 50 to get surely they couldn't lose from there! But they lost 5-5 in seven overs, including 4-0 in 22 balls. Faulkner removed Burns, Townsend and Hopes and then Butterworth picked up Chris Lynn and Harris. The Bulls were teetering at 7-88 as Hartley and Magoffin were united again. It was tension personified as the lanky No.9 started with an inside edge for four just past the stumps. The crowd cheered every single run as slowly the target came down. Play was extended for four overs prior to the scheduled tea break in the hope of getting a result. With 13 runs and Jason Krejza introduced into the attack Magoffin feathered one off the face of the bat passed 'keeper Triffitt at catchable height. Not really a catch but two invaluable runs. Faulkner bowled a maiden to Hartley and Krejza did likewise to Magoffin. Then, with still 11 runs needed, Triffitt dropped Hartley off Faulkner. A difficult chance to his left but one that could have turned the game. Then, with seven runs needed the rain came during the fourth extra over and after a short delay they had to come back and start all over again. They did it without mishap, with Magoffin finishing 26no off 63 balls, with four fours, and Hartley 19no off 48 balls, with two fours. Faulkner (3-27) and Butterworth (2-38) took the bowling honors for Tasmania. For Hopes and Hartley it was a second Shield title, coming on top of their success in 2006. And for nine other proud Bulls it was a magnificent first Kemp (in his first season and his third first-class game), Townsend, Robinson, Burns, Lynn, Harris, Magoffin, Boyce and McDermott (in his eighth first-class game). Hartley described the wicket as "one of the best batting tracks we've seen at the Gabba in a while", which only further underlined the quality of the bowling from both sides. He said the fourth innings run chase was "just madness" and spoke for every player in the match when in summary he said: "Every ball was hard .. all credit to the Tasmanians because they just kept coming at us. We had the best two sides all year which is why we had such a great final". Hopes, another key contributor with bat and ball, also singled out the brave efforts of Magoffin, who could not pick he ball up off the ground on the afternoon of day one due to his back spasms. "I asked him how he was going and he said if I kept it to spells of three and four overs he'd be right. And luckily he was." Cowans' final double of 33 and 73 saw him finish on top of the Shield run-scoring list with 948 at 59.95, ahead of Rob Quiney (Victoria), Liam Davis (WA) and Michael Klinger (SA). Burns (781 runs at 41.1) jumped to fifth, while Townsend (644 at 35.77), Forrest (581 at 58.10) and Hartley (544 at 32.00) finished 10th, 11th and 13th respectively. Bird topped the Shield wicket-taking list with 53 at 16.00, ahead of Michael Hogan (WA), Jayde Herrick (Victoria) and Faulkner. Cutting (36 wickets at 18.75) was fifth overall, while McDermott, who played just five matches, was 9th with 28 wickets at 15.96, Magoffin (23 at 16.6) was 12th, and Harris (20 at 17.95) and Boyce (20 at 34.2) finished equal 20th. Hartley topped the dismissals list for keepers with 58 (56 catches, 2 stumpings), while Robinson was 3rd among non-keepers with 14 catches, ahead of Townsend (11 - 6th) and Forrest (10 - 7th). |
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To view the 2011-12 competition ladders, please click here.
To view Bulls' first class statistics for 2011-12, click on the following links ... batting statistics ... bowling statistics.
To view details of the Bulls' 2011-12 domestic one-day campaign, please click here.