Devastating Noffke leads humiliation of Tigers

Queensland 0 for 136 (Moller 75*, Broad 57*) trail Tasmania 158 (Birt 36, Noffke 5-33) by 22 runs
Scorecard

Ashley Noffke and Queensland's inexperienced openers unveiled a new era as they demoralised Tasmania, almost claiming first-innings points on day one of the Tigers' title defence. Noffke showed there will be life after Michael Kasprowicz and Andy Bichel, who are both injured, stepping up with 5 for 33 as Tasmania fell for 158.

Greg Moller and Ryan Broad then immediately justified Jimmy Maher's decision to drop himself to No. 4 and expose younger Bulls to the new ball, carrying the score to 0 for 136 at stumps. Moller, who debuted last summer and was in his fourth game, was the dominant partner with 75 while Broad, playing his eighth match, reached 57.

Queensland fielded a wildly inexperienced side with Kasprowicz (calf), Bichel (shoulder) and Chris Hartley (wrist) ruled out. Noffke led the green attack - Maher was the side's next most prolific bowler with ten first-class wickets - on a surface with similar-coloured tinges. Chris Swan, the Gold Coast swing bowler in his second match, collected Michael Di Venuto in the second over before Noffke captured the next five wickets.

Giving up only 15 runs in 12 overs before lunch, Noffke had Michael Dighton lbw before picking up a wicket in each of his next three overs. Tim Paine was bowled, George Bailey was caught at third slip by Aaron Nye and Dan Marsh edged a short ball to the debutant wicketkeeper Murray Bragg.

After lunch Noffke took care of Birt for 36 and Swan and Ben Cutting, who is playing his first game, chipped in to finish off the Tigers and collect two wickets each. In contrast the more experienced Tasmania attack had no impact, although it was led by the same men who rattled Queensland in Wednesday's FR Cup game, and the Bulls came within 23 runs of a first-innings lead at the close.