Gulbis bowls Tasmania to victory
Evan Gulbis bowled Tasmania to victory in his first match for the state as the Tigers crushed Western Australia by 67 runs at the WACA
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Oct-2011
Tasmania 231 (Cosgrove 43, Coulter-Nile 4-66) beat Western Australia 164 (Davis 38, Gulbis 4-8, Faulkner 4-48) by 67 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Evan Gulbis bowled Tasmania to victory in his first match for the state as the Tigers crushed Western Australia by 67 runs at the WACA. Gulbis, an allrounder who moved from Victoria during the off-season, finished the remarkable figures of 4 for 8 from five overs, and it was a terrific way for him to end the match after he ran out his captain George Bailey trying to get off the mark earlier in the day.
Tasmania's 231 looked below par on a pitch with plenty of bounce and carry but the Warriors never looked totally comfortable in their chase, as James Faulkner ran through the top order and Gulbis destroyed the middle order. Faulkner picked up 4 for 48, including the top scorer Liam Davis for 38, but it was Gulbis who all but confirmed the result.
Perhaps bowling with more speed than the batsmen expected from an allrounder, Gulbis began with Travis Birt caught for 25 when he was surprised by extra bounce and was caught at gully off a leading edge. Tom Beaton followed soon afterwards, caught by Jason Krejza at fine leg when he tried to swivel a pull over the boundary.
Luke Ronchi was out for a duck when he muscled a ball straight back at Gulbis, who took a smart return catch, and he had 4 for 4 when Nathan Rimmington edged behind for another duck. There was some late resistance fro Nathan Coulter-Nile and Michael Beer, but the Warriors were dismissed for 164 in the 35th over, well short of their target.
The Tigers had also been bowled out, in the 50th over, as Coulter-Nile finished up with 4 for 66 from 12 overs. Tasmania had contributions from Mark Cosgrove (43) and Ed Cowan (40), but their effort having been sent in had appeared sub-standard.
Bailey had made a brisk 21 when he was caught short diving at the striker's end, having responded to a call from Gulbis, who was trying to get off the mark. By the end of the day Gulbis, who made 24, was the toast of the Tasmanian team.