Victoria win a rain curtailed encounter by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Scorecard:	Queensland v Victoria
Player:	LRPL Taylor, DJ Bravo
Event:	KFC Twenty20 Big Bash 2009/10

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DateLine: 29th December 2009

 

Victoria won the opening encounter of the Big Bash Twenty20 2009/10 by three runs over Queensland due to the Duckworth/Lewis method after rain stopped play in the 17th over at the Gabba on Monday night.

 

The result left the Queensland camp disappointed as it seemed the Bulls were closing in on a memorable victory. When the rain came down, Queensland was cruising at 121 for 6 with Craig Phillipson (33) and Ben Cutting (16) at the crease.

 

In the Victorian innings the international stars New Zealander Ross Taylor (58) and West Indian Dwayne Bravo (36) provided the the impetus to push the Victorian total to 8-157.

 

Queensland won the toss and elected to bowl first on a surface that had a touch of green on the surface. Nathan Rimington snared Brad Hodge in the second over for a duck and the bowler could have had Taylor who edged nervously to Simpson at first slip. But the Bulls skipper couldn't hold onto the catch.

 

Ryan Harris removed opener Quiney who edged to wicketkeeper Dunk to give his first catch of his career. Three balls later Carseldine then took a screamer at second slip to send David Hussey packing for zero and give Harris his second wicket of the innings leaving the Bushrangers dangling precariously at 3-5.

 

White and Taylor then steadied the ship for the Bushrangers their fourth wicket partnership of 77 coming before Taylor (58) hauled out to Symonds at cover. Bravo made a quick fire 36 of 18 balls smacking three sixes and two fours, but after trying to hit over mid-off he was caught by Simpson off the bowling of Alister McDermott.

 

Bulls in reply got off to a flier as openers James Hopes and Ben Dunk notched up 21 in the first two overs. In what looked at that time an innocuous moment but later dictated the result, it seemed that Dunk hammered a huge six to fine leg in the first over. But John Hastings who was patrolling the region right on the rope, managed to tap the ball back in play and save five runs.

 

With the Victorian side unable to find a wicket White brought on Bravo but his first over went for 18 which included Dunk smashing a massive six over mid-on off Bravo’s second delivery. The great start made by the Bulls came to an end however, when Dunk was dismissed for 18. The opener drove straight to Rob Quiney at mid-on who made an easy waist-high catch off the bowling of Clint McKay.

 

The visitors then got another break in the same over when Hopes (22) was run out after a mix-up with Lee Carseldine as the hosts were 48 for 2 after five overs. With the match swinging back in Victoria’s favour, Hastings grabbed another wicket when Reardon (0) edged to Taylor at slip.

 

Andrew Symonds received a rousing reception from the crowd. However, his partnership with Carseldine (8) was cut short as Cameron White took a great diving catch to his right. After a steady partnership of 34 with Craig Philipson, Symonds (16) then hauled out to Bravo at deep square leg attempting a pull off Andrew McDonald as the Bulls slipped to 90 for 4 after twelve overs.

 

Queensland could only manage six more runs before Bravo took a well-judged catch to sent back Chris Simpson and give Hastings his third wicket of the Victorian innings. With the Bulls sitting at 6-114 in the 16th over, Ben Cutting was dropped by Dirk Nannes after he skied high to deep fine. With Cutting (16) and Philipson (33) trying to guide the Bulls home at 6-121, the heavens then opened up at the Gabba and play was suspended in the 17th over, Queensland an agonising three runs off the revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 124.