All-time Queensland First Class Statistics - Queensland Cricket

The Pura Cup FinalA BATTING EXTRAVAGANZA OVER FIVE GLORIOUS DAYSThe Pura Cup Final88The XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls claimed their sixth PuraCup/Sheffield Shield championship via a phenomenal battingdisplay in a one-sided final against the Victorian Bushrangersat the Gabba from 24-28 March 2006. Captain Jimmy Maher(223), Shane Watson (201 retired hurt), Clinton Perren (173)and Martin Love (169) led an astonishing batting assaultwhich saw Queensland post a first innings total of 6-900(dec) - the highest Queensland first-class score of all-time,the third-highest all-time in the Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield,and the fifth-highest all-time in Australian cricket history.The Bulls triumphed by an innings and 354 runs – thebiggest margin in a Shield/Cup final - after Victoria, havingwon the toss, could manage just 344 and 202.It was the sweetest of victories for Queensland, who wereplaying in their eighth consecutive Cup final and had lost theprevious three. Maher, Watson, Perren and Love posted thefour highest scores by a Queensland batsman in a Shield/Cup decider, while Mitchell Johnson, with a match haul of10-106, returned the first 10-wicket haul by a Queenslandbowler in a final.While the batsmen took most of the accolades as theyre-wrote the domestic record books, the early effort of thebowlers was critical. Ashley Noffke (1-80) and Johnson (4-55) had the visitors at 2-46 in their first innings before NickJewell (89) and Brad Hodge (108) put on 192 for the thirdwicket. At 2-238 the visitors couldn’t have been happier, butonce James Hopes (1-35) removed Jewell the game turnedon the efforts of one man - Andy Bichel. He defied the benignconditions to dismiss Hodge, Cameron White, Mick Lewis andJon Moss inside four overs. Then he had a word in the ear ofJohnson and his fellow quick responded by capturing the lastthree wickets to wipe out the tail. Only David Hussey (72no)offered any further resistance.In reply, Lachlan Stevens and Maher gave the Bulls a crucial157-run start but, almost cruelly, Stevens (66 run out) wasthe lone ‘failure’ on the Queensland scorecard for most of themarathon innings. First, it was the Maher/Love show as theyput on 297. Then, after Love and Watson added 77, Watsonand Perren were united in a 329-run stand which betteredQueensland’s previous all-time fourth wicket partnershiprecord of 295 between Tom Veivers and Peter Burge in 1962-63. And it was only brokenwhen Watson was forcedto retire hurt with a calfproblem which would rulehim out of the rest of thematch. Watson wasn’t theonly casualty of an inningswhich lasted 968 minutes(16 hours 8 minutes) and242 overs. Love had earlierstrained a hamstring on97 and been forced touse Stevens as a runnerfor the second part of hismagnificent knock. He,too, took no further part.There were also casualtiesin the Bushrangers ranksas five bowlers conceded 100 runs-plus - another Australianfirst-class record. Dirk Nannes (3-150 off 40 overs) returnedthe best figures in his second game after Victorian pacespearhead Gerard Denton (appendicitis) was ruled unfittwo days before the game. Mick Lewis (1-156 off 39 overs),Shane Harwood (0-152 off 39 overs), Moss (0-108 off 30)and captain White (0-139 off 49) also felt the full brunt ofthe home batting as the four Queensland centuries equalledyet another Australianfirst-class record. For Loveit was his fourth century ina decider, but for Maher,Watson and Perren it wasa new experience.Maher, who had dedicatedhis final to his home townof Babinda after it hadbeen severely damagedby Cyclone Larry severaldays earlier, was named‘Man of the Match’ forhis career-best score- even though he insistedJohnson should havereceived the honor.Very much on the minds of the Queensland players duringthe merciless assault was the figure 710 - that’s how manyVictoria had scored against Queensland in the 2003-04 finalin Melbourne after Maher had won the toss and put thehome side in. They repaid the favor with interest. At onestage after Watson had retired hurt the scoreboard showed astaggering 3-878. In total the Bulls hit 93 fours and six sixes- 408 runs in boundaries.The Fabulous FourRuns Mins Balls 4’s 6’sJimmy Maher 223 495 385 29 -Martin Love 169 420 291 24 -Shane Watson 201 402 342 23 1Clinton Perren 173 358 278 10 5Bichel, who needed 51 runs and five wickets in the final tobecome the first Queenslander to post 500 runs and take50 wickets in a season, was pushed up the order but he fellcheaply. So did Hopes before Maher called a halt as matchofficials pondered how they might accommodate a fourfigurescore on an electronic scoreboard only equipped to goup to 999.Instead Maher decided to have a crack at the shatteredVictorians late on day four after they’d been in the fieldsince 11am on day two. It was a move that paid immediatedividends as Johnson removed the visiting openers to havethem 2-4 inside four overs. Queensland was forced to usethree substitute fieldsmen in 12th man Brendan Nash, CraigPhilipson and Nathan Rimmington to replace Love, Watsonand Noffke, who had been isolated for two days with a virus.On day five it was only a question of whether the Bulls couldtake the 10 second innings wickets for victory. And they did itin fine style as Johnson (6-51 off 20 overs) and Daniel Doran(3-33 off nine overs) showed the way with Hartley, whocompleted seven catches behind the stumps.Johnson took the first three wickets to fall, Doran thenext three, and then Johnson three more as Jewell (69)completed a fine batting double for the Bushrangers. Almostappropriately, Bichel, who had been named "Pura Cup Playerof the Year" in the lead-up to the final, returned to grab thefinal wicket - his 50th for the season.So began wild celebrations as coach Terry Oliver received hisfirst piece of silverware and Maher his first as captain. Love,in his 10th final, and Maher each collected their fifth winnersmedallion to join Stuart Law and Wade Seccombe as theState’s most decorated domestic first-class players.Bulls heroes (l-r): Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Jimmy Maher and Shane Watson.