Thrilling draw despite Jaques's blitz

Queensland 5 for 431 dec and 2 for 124 dec (Perren 57) drew with NSW 7 for 229 dec and 8 for 277 (Jaques 146, Kasprowicz 4-74)
Scorecard

Defnding champions New South Wales played out a tense draw against Queensland at The Gabba, a result which makes it almost impossible for them to retain the Pura Cup.

Set 327 from 55 overs to win in the second innings, NSW managed 8 for 277 with Man of the Match Phil Jaques blazing a run-a-ball 146. When Jaques dragged on a slower ball from Michael Kasprowicz, NSW were 8 for 270 with 33 balls remaining. Stuart Clark and Doug Bollinger then stonewalled to leave Queensland with only two first-innings points from the captivating match.

The result left NSW fifth on the Cup table with only 11 points from eight matches and no realistic chance of playing in the final. They are 11 points behind second-placed Tasmania (22) and seven behind Queensland (18). To add insult to injury for NSW, their appeal against the one-point penalty, incurred for a slow over-rate against Victoria in December, was dismissed by Cricket Australia today.

Starting the final day on 6 for 125, 306 in arrears, Mark Waugh (90) and Matt Nicholson (35 not out) put on 118 runs fopr the seventh wicket, and Steve Waugh declared the innings after Mark's dismissal. Jimmy Maher, the Queensland captain, opted against enforcing the follow-on and then made a sporting declaration of his own after they smacked 2 for 124 in 18 overs. Clinton Perren's quickfire 57 was the highlight.

NSW looked a strong chance of winning when Steve Waugh was in full flight with Jaques. Waugh was in sparkling touch, racing to 28 off 20 balls before Joe Drawes trapped him leg-before with an in-cutter, ending a 55-run stand which put the NSW Blues back on track after they slumped to to 3 for 141. Jaques and Greg Mail (50 off 67) had given the them the perfect launch-pad with a 101-run stand before Kasprowicz (4-74) triggered a minor collapse.

Kasprowicz induced an inside edge from Mail for wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe to take a brilliant diving catch. This gave Kasprowicz the dual milestone of 800 first-class wickets and the record as the leading Queensland Shield/Pura Cup wicket-taker (384). The previous record belonged to Carl Rackemann.

Kaprowicz then followed up by dismissing Brad Haddin (10), also caught behind, before latching on to a skied pull shot from Dominic Thornely (1). Mark Waugh fell for 5 when he scooped Kasprowicz to Craig Philipson on the third man boundary. And despite Jaques's sparkling efforts, NSW ended 50 runs short.