Queensland v Western Australia, FR Cup, Brisbane

Brutal Doropoulos helps break Western Australia drought

Cricinfo staff

February 16, 2008

Western Australia 9 for 242 (Doropoulos 75) beat Queensland 111 (Watson 46) by 131 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Theo Doropoulos produced a powerful 75 to set up Western Australia's victory © Getty Images

Western Australia ended a six-game losing streak as they benefited from Queensland's kamikaze batting in a failed bid to remain in contention for the FR Cup final. The Bulls needed to reach 243 in 25 overs to gain a double bonus point and stay in the race, but they were unable to mix heavy run-scoring with wicket protection and lost by 131 runs.

Jimmy Maher left to the third ball of the innings, Chris Simpson was run-out for 13 and when Nathan Reardon and Craig Philipson fell quickly the home side was 4 for 55. Shane Watson had the most success, thrashing 46 off 27 balls, but he was bowled by Steve Magoffin when walking across his stumps after taking 14 from the over.

Queensland refused to call off the chase and Magoffin, Ben Edmondson and Paul Davis were rewarded with three wickets each. The match was concluded 17.5 overs into the second innings and it was Western Australia who gained the pair of bonus points. However, both teams ended their limited-overs campaigns for the season.

Theo Doropoulos showed no nerves as he rescued the Warriors from 4 for 33 and produced a brutal 75 off 63 balls, which included four sixes. He particularly liked the offspin of Chris Simpson, who was hit into the stand twice at mid-on, while Michael Kasprowicz's final day was most memorable for him being hit into the top tier after Doropoulos charged him.

It was Doropoulos' second fifty in consecutive games and was essential to Western Australia's total. His 124-run partnership with Matt Johnston re-floated the innings after Ashley Noffke took three wickets in a brilliant opening.

Noffke thrust out his right hand for a sharp caught and bowled to get rid of Shaun Marsh, his second wicket after finding Luke Ronchi's edge in the second over. He also removed Chris Rogers as the Bulls' hopes of a massive win improved.

The Doropoulos-Johnston stand made that virtually impossible and the Western Australia lower order annoyed the home side again, just like it did when escaping with a draw in the Pura Cup game on Thursday. Noffke was the pick with 3 for 27 while Chris Swan also provided some problems in taking two wickets.

Kasprowicz did not get a breakthrough and was struck for 50 runs in his last game as a Queensland player, but it did not dampen the reception he received for his decades of service. He was also in the middle when the match ended with Scott Brant edging to Rogers at slip.

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