Blewett apologises after Redbacks suffer hiding at Gabba

BRISBANE, Jan 17 AAP - Captain Greg Blewett apologised to spectators and even the South Australian Cricket Association tonight after his Redbacks were crushed by Queensland in a lopsided ING Cup clash at the Gabba.

Blewett said the Redbacks had batted like millionaires but finished as bankrupts, recording South Australia's lowest ever one-day total of 83 in 21 overs during a seven-wicket drubbing.

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds finished off the Redbacks in fitting style by thumping the winning runs into the southern stand, sending Queensland to 3-84 in 23.2 overs well before sundown in the day-night match.

"We need to apologise to the people who turned up to watch it and even our employers, because it cost a bit of money to send us up here," Blewett said.

"Especially on that sort of wicket, winning the toss and knowing how good it was I was thinking we could get anything between 250 and 300.

"The innings was very embarrassing."

And it was a rude shock for the spectators who arrived at the ground after finishing work only to find the Bulls casually heading towards victory and a bonus point which sent them to the top of the points table.

They had hoped to see Symonds run amok as he gained match practice before next month's World Cup but he expended the most energy signing autographs for the unlucky spectators who paid to watch the demolition.

Symonds finished 10 not out, hitting a four and a six, but the individual honours belonged to Lee Carseldine.

The 27-year-old claimed 4-6 from four overs with his sharpish left-armers before making 16 during Queensland's predictable pursuit of victory.

Carseldine's strength is batting, leading Queensland's runscorers in this season's Pura Cup, but his bowling is more than respectable given his luckless run of injuries in previous seasons.

With Damien Mackenzie (3-20 from three overs) and Zimbabwe-born Scott Brant (3-33 from six) also claiming wickets, Queensland took just 98 mins to steamroll the Redbacks.

Carseldine said everything had gone Queensland's way while Blewett was reluctant to give too much credit to the Bulls bowlers.

"I just wanted everyone to go out there and bat with freedom but after we lost a couple of wickets we needed someone to bat through the innings," Blewett said.

"I don't think too many balls got wickets, you'll find most of the guys got themselves out which was a disappointing thing."

The Redbacks remain at the bottom of the table but they were at least encouraged by the performances of debutants Mark Cosgrove (24 from 33) and Mark Cleary (2-16 from seven).

Queensland should enter Sunday's Pura Cup match between the teams on a high, hoping to extend its lead on the first-class points table.

The Bulls have lost paceman Ashley Noffke (finger) while the Redbacks will be without all-rounder Mark Higgs (hip) and hope paceman Paul Rofe will recover after he dislocated and gashed his finger in today's loss.