Harris Rains on Victorian Parade

Ryobi Cup One Day Final
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Queensland beat Victoria by 2 runs (D/L method)

Queensland Bulls pulled off an improbable victory against the Victorian Bushrangers to snatch the Ryobi One Day Cup from the jaws of defeat by two runs and with two balls to spare at a rain affected MCG.

Ryan Harris (right) was the star of the show claiming figures of 4/26 including successive wickets in the final over to seal the win for the visitors. The former Australian international's contribution, alongside Alister McDermott (3/49) and James Hopes (2/31), was all the more impressive considering the Bulls had set a meagre total of 147, from 32 overs, for the hosts to chase down.

The Bulls, who had lost the toss, had Jason Floros to thank for his valuable knock of 47 from 32 balls which restored some respectability to a fragmented, yet dour, overall total badly affected by a two-hour rain delay.

Floros’ quickfire blast around the park was curtailed three runs short of what would have been a deserved half century in an eventful last over in which he dispatched John Hastings for two sixes before gloving to ‘keeper Peter Handscomb.

Peter Forrest and Greg Moller were the only other scorers of note; both making 26 runs apiece before edging to Handscomb off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed (1/17) and Clint McKay (2/24), respectively. 

With conditions tricky and the ponderous Bushrangers caught between one day and T20 modes, the Bulls took advantage of their start in the powerplay overs to snare opening pair Rob Quiney (5) – courtesy of an outstanding catch at mid-off by Joe Burns off the bowling of Hopes – and Aaron Finch, who was trapped LBW by Harris for 7.

Michael Hill (19) made a steady start but fell to Hopes before captain Cameron White (28) and Handscomb (42) dug in to make an unfashionable fifty run partnership.

Queensland were given fresh hope when Cameron Gannon’s reintroduction immediately yielded White’s wicket before Handscomb departed soon after having heaved McDermott to a grateful Burns.

While Hastings (3) and Will Sheridan (8) departed meekly, Clint McKay looked to have guided the Bushrangers home with a dazzling cameo of 18 runs from 13 deliveries – including two sixes – which left the hosts needing just five runs off the last over.

When McKay nicked Harris behind the Bushrangers needed just three; however the proverbial rabbit in Harris’ full-beam headlights, Fawad Ahmed, nicked to first slip for a golden duck to give the Bulls the nest egg.