Despite losing the toss and being sent into bat, captain, Tim Paine, and fellow opener, Caleb Jewell, made the most of the hand they’d been dealt and got off to a flying start. The pair compiled a 55-run partnership before an exciting knock – at a strike rate of 133 - from Caleb Jewell came to an end on 36.
It was big Billy Stanlake who got the breakthrough with the ball for the Bulls, and from here he set about terrorising the Tigers’ top order. Following Jewell, he went on to take the wickets of Jake Doran (1), Mac Wright (10) and Tim Paine (28), to finish a scintillating 10-over spell with figures of 4-24 off his 10 overs.
Jordan Silk was next to the crease, and he steadied the ship for the Tigers, top-scoring for the hosts with 77 off 88 deliveries. Aptly aided by tail-enders Nathan Ellis (21) and Jackson Bird (27), the Tigers lost their final wicket with a single ball remaining in the innings, posting a respectable total of 237 to defend.
In a start that somewhat mirrored the Tigers’ time at the crease, Queensland openers Sam Heazlett and Usman Khawaja piled on 53 runs before the first wicket fell; Heazlett for 27 off the bowling of Sam Rainbird.
This left the dangerous pairing of Marnus Labuschagne and Khawaja at the crease, who together put on 27 runs before Ellis struck, ending a potentially dangerous knock from Labuschange, who was on 18 runs off just 14 balls.
From here Khawaja set in, looking oh-so-comfortable in the middle of Blundstone Arena, as he had in his whites at the same venue just two days earlier. Supported by Matthew Renshaw (16), Joe Burns (36), Jimmy Peirson (16*) and Jack Wildermuth (17), Khawaja crept into the 90s before Ellis struck again. This time it was a nick caught behind by Paine, sending Khawaja back to the sheds for a well-made 93 off 106.
Khawaja had the last laugh, however, when Mark Steketee hit the winning runs in the 48th over, and Queensland notched up the winning total of 6-238 with 14 balls to spare.
Stanlake was named Player of the Match, whilst in more positive news for the Tigers, the home team blooded two debutants in Mitch Owen and Tom Andrews.
The men’s Tigers squad will now enjoy a short break before their next round of matches start in Melbourne on March 5.