Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Queensland Bulls scrape to win
After the batsmen tottered in the middle order, the Queensland bowlers made amends to win over Victoria and take the domestic First Class championship for 2005-06.

Queensland lost 3 quick wickets and Watson to injury late in the first innings, as they slumped from 3/878 to a paltry 6/891. But middle order nerves didn’t worry the bowlers as Victoria – chasing 551 to make Queensland bat again – slumped to 202 all out.

With Queensland scratching around at 2 for 454 the Victorians must have smelled victory, just a mere 111 runs behind on the first innings. And when Shane Watson fell to injury and Andy Bichel departed cheaply, the champagne in the Victoria dressing room must have been on ice. Victorian bowler, Nannes, was on fire, bagging 3 wickets for just 150 runs.

But after another 446 streaky Queensland runs later, the game had swung the Bulls' way.

But it was not to be for the plucky Victorians. After being cleaned up in the second innings they lost by just an innings and 354 runs; quite the largest defeat in a first class final.

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