Bulls One Day Boost For Shield

The  Bulls take on Victoria, who defeated them at the Gabba last week, in their last Shield clash before the Big Bash League competition break.

Queensland travel to Melbourne today to prepare for the first class match against Victoria starting on Friday at the MCG.

Last night's one-day win over Tasmania lifted Queensland into third spot on the ladder, with two more games to be played in February following the BBL.

The 56-run win was inspired by Matthew Renshaw, who produced a masterful century to lift Queensland to victory.

The 28-year-old's player-of-the-match knock of 122 off 99 deliveries at Bellerive Stadium, while batting at No.4, was his fourth ton in domestic one-day cricket and another example of the talent the former Test batter possesses.

Rain came after 46.3 overs in with Queensland's 6-319 and Tasmania, chasing a revised 338 to win in 46 overs, replied with 281 all out.

Bulls skipper Mitchell Swepson (4-40) chimed in with his well-flighted leg-spinners despite aggressive knocks from Jake Weatherald (55) and Matthew Wade (68). 

Renshaw and fellow left-hander Jack Clayton (72 off 57 balls) added 154 runs for the fourth wicket to set up the win.

Jimmy Peirson (43) and debutant Angus Lovell (42) gave the Bulls early impetus while left-hander Lachlan Hearne (21 off 13) also kept the score ticking.

Swepson bowled one of his best spells for Queensland with his flight, variation and all-round guile on show to have the hosts in dire straits at 8-207.

The interest at that point was whether the Bulls could keep Tasmania to less than 271 and secure a bonus point.

Former Bulls spinner Matthew Kuhnemann (34no) and Tom Rogers (39) denied Queensland the privilege with a 67-run ninth-wicket stand.

Meanwhile the Bulls have included pace bowlers Gurinder Sandhu and Tom Straker ahead of Friday’s important Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG.

Victoria currently sits on top of the Shield ladder while Queensland is striving for its first win of the season after drawing three of its first five games.

Sandhu made a successful return from a calf injury in Queensland’s polished win over Tasmania in their One Day Cup game yesterday in Hobart while Straker returns to the squad after missing the last Shield game as part of the 19-year-old’s bowling workload management plan.

The match is the last first class game before the competition breaks for the KFC Big Bash League that gets underway from Sunday 15 December.

Bulls batsman Matthew Renshaw comes into the match with a Shield hundred and one-day ton under his belt in the past month, with his 122 from 99 balls yesterday inspiring Queensland to victory.

Sheffield Shield
Queensland Bulls v Victoria
MCG, Fri – Mon

4. Mitchell Swepson (c)
19. Xavier Bartlett
21. Jack Clayton
22. Lachlan Hearne
48. Angus Lovell
43. Ben McDermott
59. Jimmy Peirson
77. Matthew Renshaw
14. Gurinder Sandhu
16. Mark Steketee
45. Tom Straker
25. Bryce Street
24. Jack Wildermuth
(12th man to be named)