Symonds steers Queensland to victory

Queensland 8 for 226 (Symonds 71, MacGill 4-37) beat New South Wales 9 for 225 (Haddin 88, Bradstreet 53*) by two wickets
Scorecard

Brad Haddin attacks on his way to 88 ... but it was in a losing cause © Getty Images

Queensland made a successful start to their season with a tense two-wicket win over New South Wales at the Gabba.

Chasing a target of 226, Queensland stuttered within sight of victory, losing three wickets for nine runs after seemingly cruising on 5 for 201 in the 43rd over.

Allrounder James Hopes (30*) saw the Bulls home with 13 balls to spare by charging Shawn Bradstreet and lofting him over the long-on boundary for the winning runs. Andrew Symonds earlier scored a 66-ball 71 to win the Man-of-the-Match award.

Stuart MacGill made life difficult for Queensland by taking 4 for 37 from his 10 overs, in the process breaking Jo Angel's domestic one-day record of 94 wickets.

MacGill, who now has 97 career wickets, put New South Wales back into the hunt, dismissing Andy Bichel (12) and Martin Love (48) in his first three overs after Queensland eased to 1 for 81. He came back later to remove Symonds and Chris Simpson.

NSW skipper Brad Haddin, who won the toss, belted a run-a-ball 88 and allrounder Bradstreet made a crucial unbeaten 53 to help the visitors to 9 for 225 after earlier reeling at 4 for 36.

Bichel and Simpson both took 3-30 for the Bulls.