Bulls take upper hand on 20-wicket day
SYDNEY, March 6 AAP - Stuart MacGill's spin almost cancelled out Ashley Noffke's pace as NSW and Queensland found contrasting ways to humiliate each other on the opening day of their Pura Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Michael Donaldson
06-Mar-2003
SYDNEY, March 6 AAP - Stuart MacGill's spin almost cancelled out Ashley Noffke's pace as NSW and Queensland found contrasting ways to humiliate each other on the opening day of their Pura Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
On a day in which 20 wickets fell for less than 300 runs, Queensland led by 88 after dismissing NSW for 102 only to be bowled out for 190 in turn, with MacGill taking 5-52.
While NSW was well behind, Steve Waugh's men were not totally out of a contest which should end in a positive result one way or the other.
NSW, searching for a place in the Cup final against the Bulls starting next week in Brisbane, looked like they'd lost the map this morning as Noffke scythed through the world-class line-up.
Removing Michael Slater, Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke for ducks inside the first half-hour with a series of deliveries which swung and cut off the seam, Noffke finished with 6-24.
It was his best bowling for Queensland but not quite as good as hauls of seven and eight wickets for Middlesex in English county cricket.
He expected things to be tougher tomorrow when NSW bats to save its season.
"Tomorrow's probably going to the most important day of the year for them," Noffke said.
"Their future's going to be determined by how they play tomorrow."
Having ripped through NSW so easily, Noffke wasn't keen to nominate NSW as his preferred opponent for the final.
"We're not too worried about who we play. If we play good cricket we're going to be pretty hard to beat."
Queensland did just that today but Noffke said the Bulls were disappointed they "took their foot off the throat a bit" to allow NSW a glimmer of hope with three days to play.
Queensland attained first innings points about midway through the opening day and at 2-105 shortly after tea, the Bulls were well on their way to an outright victory.
However, MacGill and fellow wrist-spinner Simon Katich (3-55) soon brought their side back into the contest.
MacGill, on a hat-trick at one stage, also took two wickets in his final over of the day to wrap up Queensland's innings, the Bulls losing their last nine wickets for 95 runs.
While Noffke was happy with his own haul he put some blame on the batsmen from both sides for the day's proceedings.
"It wasn't a 20-wickets-in-a-day pitch," Noffke confessed.
"Play from both sides was a little bit poor at times."
It was a timely effort from Noffke after Queensland suffered a tough blow on the morning of the match with pace bowler Joe Dawes ruled out with a back strain.
Dawes, the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition, flew home for scans while the Bulls sent down Damien MacKenzie to act as 12th man.
Dawes' absence left the Bulls with only two specialist pace bowlers - Noffke and Michael Kasprowicz - and with two spinners, including debutant Chris Simpson.