Queensland tail upsets Victoria

Queensland 170 and 9 for 252 (Hartley 45, Swan 36*, McDonald 3-44) beat Victoria 316 and 104 by 1 wicket
Scorecard

Queensland's last pair, Chris Swan and Luke Feldman, thwarted Victoria's hopes of securing a home final with a 58-run stand that delivered a one-wicket win for Queensland. The Bulls reached their target of 251 with Swan on 36 and Feldman on 27, and it closed Victoria's lead over the Bulls at the top of the table to four points.

The Bushrangers had been expected to wrap up victory on the fourth morning when Queensland began still 77 short with two wickets in hand. When the last of their major batting hopes, Chris Hartley, was caught behind off Darren Pattinson for 45, the Bulls still needed 57 and Victoria appeared to be on the brink.

But Swan and Feldman gradually reduced the deficit and were not put off by a short rain delay with 20 runs still to get. The winning runs came when Swan pulled Damien Wright for a boundary soon after play resumed.

Having taken first-innings points, Victoria are guaranteed of a place in the Sheffield Shield final but they missed a golden opportunity to seal the hosting rights with two rounds to play. Queensland are the only other team who can host the final but technically they can still lose their place in the decider to Tasmania, South Australia or New South Wales.