Bichel steers Queensland to tight success

Queensland 8 for 235 (Perren 45, White 3-41) beat Victoria 227 (Klinger 79, Bichel 3-45) by 8 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Three late wickets from Andy Bichel earned Queensland a close eight-run victory over Victoria at the MCG. Chasing 236, the Bushrangers had a platform laid by Michael Klinger's 79, but he was run out by James Hopes with the score on 173 and then Bichel returned for the decisive spell.

Andrew McDonald was the first victim, brilliantly caught by Chris Hartley, and Grant Lindsay fell in Bichel's next over before Andrew Symonds claimed Clinton McKay, leaving Victoria with 16 to win from eight balls. Bichel ended the match on the fifth-last delivery when Adam Crosthwaite's brave attempt at a boundary was caught at long-off by Scott Brant.

Cameron White interrupted the Bulls after they recovered from a slow start through Jimmy Maher and Andrew Symonds. Both batsmen fell in the 40s and Queensland relied on Clinton Perren's 45 and a late push from Hartley and Ashley Noffke.

Noffke opened the second innings by picking up two victims and Hopes also chipped in with a couple of dismissals. The win moved Queensland to the top of the table with a one-point buffer over New South Wales.