Queensland knock off needed runs with little fuss to secure a nine-wicket victory at Bellerive
Match Report:
ScorecardQueensland wrap up comprehensive win in Hobart
Queensland have revived their Sheffield Shield hopes with a thumping nine-wicket win against Tasmania that, before other matches were completed, saw the Bulls rise to second on the ladder.
Set just 81 runs to win, the Bulls cruised to 1-82 in the first session of the final day at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Test stalwart Usman Khawaja (33 not out) and Jack Clayton (34no) were untroubled in peeling off the last 56 runs to win on Sunday.
The victory was set up by Khawaja's first-innings 127 and Michael Neser's 6-37 and 2-59 to dismiss Tasmania for 161 and then 345 following on.
"The way 'Uzzie' (Khawaja) batted was superb, he just set that game up for us," Neser said post-play.
"We definitely wouldn't be in the position we are if our batters didn't do what they did day one.
"It's a massive game in Adelaide (next round). It's going to be tough there, we know it can get flat at times … so hopefully we can carry that momentum through (from this win)."
The victory lifts the Queenslanders from fifth spot to second on the Shield table ahead of results from other games which finish Sunday between ladder-leaders South Australia and Victoria, and defending champions Western Australia against NSW.
At the time of the Bulls' victory, SA topped the table on 43.93 points with Queensland next-best with 36.8, followed by NSW (32.87), WA (32.63), Victoria (30.64) and Tasmania (27.61).
After Sunday's fixtures are completed, one round remains to determine the finalists.
Sheffield Shield standings 2024-25
| Team | M | W | L | D | N/R | Ded. | Bat | Bowl | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
SA
|
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7.61 | 9 | 55.61 |
|
2
QLD
|
10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9.06 | 8.7 | 39.76 |
|
3
VIC
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.19 | 9.3 | 39.49 |
|
4
NSW
|
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6.99 | 8.4 | 36.39 |
|
5
TAS
|
10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7.72 | 8.2 | 35.92 |
|
6
WA
|
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5.83 | 8.6 | 35.43 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
N/R: No results
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points