Plucky rearguard efforts edge Queensland home

Queensland 8 for 231 (Hopes 77) beat Western Australia 226 (Martyn 77, North 58, Bandy 54) by 2 wickets
Scorecard

Chris Hartley and Nathan Hauritz shared a 34-run partnership to take Queensland home © Getty Images Enlarge

A breezy 77 off 66 balls by James Hopes set up Queensland before a rearguard effort steered them to a thrilling win over Western Australia in the ING Cup match at Brisbane. Hopes, the opener, charged Queensland to a comfortable 1 for 105 in a knock containing 13 fours before being part of a collapse engineered by double strikes from Brett Dorey and Peter Worthington. Four wickets fell for eight runs to leave the Bulls tottering at 5 for 113.

Chris Hartley combined first with the debutant Steve Paulsen (32) and then added an unbroken 34-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Nathan Hauritz (12 not out) for a stunning come-from-behind victory in a thrilling last-over finish. Hartley's plucky unbeaten 36 came off 44 balls and included two fours and two sixes.

Damien Martyn's 77 lifted Western Australia to a competitive total after the 97-run stand for the second wicket between David Bandy and Marcus North. Martyn, who returned to the side after recovering from a finger injury, steered WA out of a middle-order slump as five wickets, including three for Hauritz, fell for 38 runs.