Bulls add late wobble to stunning start
Queensland swept through Tasmania but the hosts were in discomfort late on an eventful first day at the Gabba
Cricinfo staff
01-Nov-2009
Scott Walter sparked a dramatic collapse as Queensland swept through Tasmania, but the hosts were in discomfort late on an eventful first day at the Gabba. Walter, the left-arm swing bowler, followed his six wickets in the opening game against Western Australia with 4 for 30 as the Bulls ran through the visiting top order and dismissed them for 156.
However, the Tigers hit back to have the hosts 4 for 75, including a fall of 3 for 12 shortly before stumps. Brett Geeves did the damage by removing Wade Townsend and the key pair of Ryan Broad (30) and Lee Carseldine (3), with the late stumble ensuring a tense second morning as the teams jostle for first-innings points.
Until then George Bailey, the Tasmania captain, must have wondered why he decided to bat at the toss. His side was 3 for 6 and then 5 for 27 in bowler-friendly conditions after Walter and Chris Swan knocked them over in a stunning start. Walter gained three of the first four breakthroughs, with Jonathan Wells (0) and Alex Doolan (2) bowled before Bailey was lbw for 5.
Swan picked up Ed Cowan and when Ben Cutting chipped in with Daniel Marsh's wicket a total of more than 100 seemed impossible. Luke Butterworth helped the situation a little by reaching 22 but it was Geeves' 40 that delayed Queensland and averted a catastrophe.
Stands of 31 with Brady Jones and 42 with Brendan Drew dragged the Tigers ahead and the final pair of Drew and Tim Macdonald also put on 20 before Walter intervened. Swan finished with 3 for 45 and Cutting gained two victims as they covered well for their injury-hit squad.