Birt and Dighton drive Tasmania home

Tasmania 328 and 2 for 145 (Dighton 65*, Birt 60*) beat Queensland 144 and 328 (Hopes 122, Love 109, Hilfenhaus 3-98) by 8 wickets
Scorecard

Michael Dighton and Travis Birt steered Tasmania to top spot on the Pura Cup table with a win over Queensland after centuries to James Hopes and Martin Love gave the Bulls a chance. Chasing 145 for victory, Dighton and Birt steadied following the loss of both the openers and earned the Tigers their first home triumph in 2006-07.

Hopes and Love were the standouts as Queensland registered 328 in their second innings. The pair resumed at 4 for 153 and each raised a century - Hopes' first and Love's second for the season - in their 220-run stand. Hopes was brilliantly caught and bowled by Daniel Marsh for 122 and when Love went shortly afterwards for 109 it was up to Andy Bichel and Ashley Noffke, who each made 34, to set the home side a testing target.

The chase began badly when Bichel snared Michael Di Venuto and Tim Paine cheaply and Tasmania were 2 for 20. But Dighton, who made 126 in the first innings, continued his excellent run of form with an unbeaten 65 and was well supported by Birt (60 not out) as they brought up the victory in the dying stages of the fourth day.

The Tigers are on top of the Pura Cup table with three wins, ahead of Victoria and Queensland. Every team has four matches still to play before the final in March.