Hopes finishes off Tigers at Gabba

BRISBANE, Oct 27 AAP - Queensland all-rounder James Hopes continued his impressive one-day record as the Bulls reined in Tasmania's batsmen in the ING Cup cricket clash at the Gabba today.

Tasmania was bowled out for 174 in the 46th over, with Hopes claiming three wickets from his final five deliveries to finish with 4-34 from 8.5 overs.

Hopes was on a hat-trick after dismissing Damien Wright (four) and Xavier Doherty with successive balls and he bowled Adam Griffith for a duck three balls later.

The 24-year-old has been a handy addition to the Bulls' one-day team, taking 16 wickets in last season's competition.

Zimbabwe-raised quick Scott Brant (3-35) started the rot for Tasmania when he claimed the key wicket of Australian all-rounder Shane Watson (eight), who was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe.

With opening batsman Michael DiVenuto (five) also failing, the Tigers lacked the top-order spark they needed after being sent in to bat in overcast conditions.

Captain Jamie Cox revived the Tigers with an efficient knock of 78 from 91 balls, joining Sean Clingeleffer (24 from 51) in a 66-run stand for the seventh wicket.

But Cox's dismissal to Hopes, swatting a running catch for Nathan Hauritz at long off, left the Tigers in trouble.

"We have a history of falling about 20 runs short so, with five guys in the shed and 10 overs left, we decided to have a go," Cox said.

"We did fight pretty hard but, with the lights on and the white ball to face, conditions were pretty difficult."

Off-spinner Hauritz (1-33 from seven overs) made a sound return in his first match in almost two months.

Hauritz had been away with the Australian Test and one-day squads in Kenya, Sri Lanka and Sharjah and only returned to Brisbane on Friday morning.