Bailey leads Tasmania with bat and brains

Tasmania 5 for 264 (Bailey 112*, Cowan 53) beat Queensland 245 (Reardon 79, Doherty 4-28) by 19 runs
Scorecard

The captain George Bailey's maiden one-day century and his astute use of the spinner Xavier Doherty kept Tasmania's FR Cup season alive with a 19-run win over Queensland. Bailey scored 112 as the hosts reached 5 for 264 and then opened with Doherty, the left-arm orthodox, who finished with 4 for 28 off 10 overs.

Nathan Reardon's 79, which included three sixes and took 84 balls, and 36 to Craig Philipson gave the Bulls hope, but Doherty proved too much of an obstacle and they were dismissed for 245. The result left a jammed table, with the leaders Queensland on 21 points with Victoria, Tasmania one behind in third, and the bottom-placed South Australia on 17. All the sides have one match remaining to determine who progresses to the final on February 28.

With 66 needed off the last 10 overs, Queensland took the Powerplay and soon lost the crucial wicket of Reardon to a fine run-out from Bailey, who hit the stumps from cover. In the next over Chris Simpson fell without scoring when he found deep square leg off Doherty.

Calling the spinner for the PowerPlay was as brave as opening with him, and Doherty was soon celebrating again when he bowled Ben Cutting. The game was effectively over when Philipson was caught by a diving Michael Dighton at backward point in the 48th over.

Doherty started the second innings and the ploy worked after four balls when he had Ryan Broad lbw. Chris Hartley was also undone by a spinner, falling to Jason Krejza on 41, and the Bulls were in more difficulty at 4 for 141 when Chris Lynn became Doherty's second victim.

Tasmania's innings began cautiously but picked up after Bailey joined Ed Cowan when the hosts were 2 for 43. Cowan left with a measured 53 and Bailey really picked up the tempo late in the innings when joined by Dan Marsh (24 off 25) and Krejza (32 off 22).

Bailey's hundred came up with a six flicked off his toes from Cutting, who was unfortunate to give up 17 in his last over, while he also gained eight fours during his 108-ball innings. His use of Doherty and a vital run-out added to the captain's fine day.