Queensland sweep to 106-run win

Queensland 408 and 5 for 189 dec (Maher 88) beat Victoria 212 and 279 (Jewell 69, White 56) by 106 runs
Scorecard
Points table

Queensland secured hosting rights for the Pura Cup final with a convincing 106-run win against Victoria at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. Requiring 386 for victory, Victoria were dismissed for 279, with only Nick Jewell (69) and Cameron White (56) providing some resistance as the Bulls ran into their eighth successive final.

Resuming at 1 for 28, Jason Arnberger and Brad Hodge pushed the score to 60 before Queensland struck three quick blows, getting rid of Hodge (34), Arnberger (30) and Jon Moss (2) to have the Bushrangers struggling at 4 for 68.

Victoria then produced their best passage of the day as Jewell and White added 100 for the fifth wicket. White was the more aggressive, scoring his runs off only 77 balls with five fours and two sixes, and after he was run out Nathan Pilon, the first-game wicketkeeper, kept the fight going, adding a further 64 for the sixth wicket.

Jewell's 163-ball vigil ended when he was trapped in front by Daniel Doran, who was bowling in pain after dislocating a finger on Saturday, and the Bulls then went for the kill. Shane Warne slapped a quick 21 before Michael Kasprowicz had him lbw, and the rest of the lower order folded.

Jimmy Maher, the Queensland captain, said his bowlers were outstanding on a flat surface and a fast outfield. "They were just relentless," he told AAP. "Kasprowicz, Bichel, Noffke, Hopes were just phenomenal - they gave Victoria nothing for the whole game. Doran proved the sort of character he is - his spinning finger is busted basically - and he took two very important wickets in both innings which changed the course of the match."