Queensland v New South Wales, FR Cup, Brisbane

Blues end drought in wet victory

Cricinfo staff

December 12, 2007

New South Wales 1 for 58 beat Queensland 9 for 157 (Philipson 45) by 17 runs on D/L method
Scorecard

Mark Cameron proved too much for Queensland's top order and his three wickets were crucial © Getty Images

New South Wales broke an 11-match streak without a one-day win as they scraped to a rain-interrupted victory over Queensland on a stormy night at the Gabba. Fifteen overs were needed in the second innings to force a result and the umpire Dave Orchard called for the covers as soon as Shane Watson delivered ball 14.6.

The Blues were 1 for 58 and it was enough to take the match by 17 runs on Duckworth/Lewis. Phil Jaques was unbeaten on 26 while Daniel Smith was 24 after Phillip Hughes had fallen to the outswing of Scott Brant on 5.

New South Wales' last taste of FR Cup success was on November 22, 2006, when they beat Western Australia by one run. They lost five games to end that season and started this one with five defeats and one no-result before the abandoned game in Wollongong on Sunday. Not only did they end their drought in the rainy conditions, but they also picked up a bonus point.

Queensland, who are second on the table, relied on Craig Philipson's calm 45 to get them out of a disastrous situation as they lost their first five for 38 by the 11th over. Mark Cameron did the early damage on a surface that offered bounce and movement throughout the match.

He removed the opener Shane Watson (2) with an edge to second slip while Nathan Reardon (7) was lbw and Clinton Perren (0) nicked a tricky delivery. Jimmy Maher was furious to fall driving at Moises Henriques, who also bowled Aaron Nye, but the captain was relieved that Philipson mounted a rescue.

He stood out with a four over cover from Doug Bollinger, which was one of his seven boundaries, and he received useful support as he sweated to inflate the total. Chris Simpson (16) went to a top edge trying to repeat the six off Henriques and Chris Hartley hung around for 31 off 60 balls, falling to a fine back-tracking catch from the debutant Steven Smith.

Philipson's 91-ball rearguard ended shortly after the return from a rain break and Grant Sullivan scurried for 19 as Queensland managed 157, which became the Blues' original target on Duckworth/Lewis. Cameron was unable to strike after his early burst, finishing with 3 for 25, while Henriques and Dominic Thornely also collected three wickets in the steamy conditions.

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