WA beat Qld despite McDermott heroics

9 Feb 2012, 5:33 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A remarkable seven wicket haul by Queensland quick Alister McDermott couldn't stop Western Australia grabbing a one-wicket Shield win at the Gabba.

Finally Alister McDermott has a story to rival the exploits of his dad, former Test fast bowler Craig.

Not that it made Western Australia's dramatic one-wicket Sheffield Shield win over Queensland at the Gabba on Thursday any easier to digest.

In one of the great Shield finishes, McDermott's remarkable haul of 7-24 - and two wickets in consecutive balls by Ben Cutting - left WA teetering at 9-64 still needing four runs to win.

But tailender Michael Hogan survived Cutting's hat-trick ball then rattled off the remaining four runs required for victory off the next two deliveries to break Queensland hearts.

After just five first class games, McDermott, 20, has already chalked up Queensland's seventh-best Shield bowling performance.

His dad sits at No.2 with 8-44.

McDermott may not yet have bragging rights on his dad - who grabbed 291 wickets over a 12-year Test career - but at least he finally has something to brag about.

"I have got a little story there," said McDermott who took the first seven WA scalps.

"And when I got five it was a special moment because I go up on the board there with my dad (on the Gabba honour roll for five wicket hauls).

"The boys were throwing around 'get a 10-for'.

"I didn't know about that ... (but) walking out we thought if we bowl well enough we can make them crumble."

Boasting an action similar to his father, McDermott provided a damaging spell not unlike his dad on an up-and-down pitch to ensure a comfortable run chase became a white-knuckle ride for WA.

Amazingly, McDermott's figures could have been better - Ryan Broad hung his head after dropping Nathan Coulter-Nile in the slips with WA 7-63.

But two straight scalps by Cutting (2-29) ensured a classic Shield finale - but WA captain Marcus North couldn't watch.

"To be honest I didn't see any of it," he said.

"I had to go preoccupy myself (in the changerooms) - I thought we had thrown it away.

"But I was thankful of hearing the cheers of the team-mates when we got over the line."

Queensland's first Shield loss of the season ensured second-placed WA whittled away the Bulls' ladder lead to just four points with three rounds left.

"It was nice to be on the good side of it today but if we are serious about playing the Shield final we have to be playing a bit better than that," North said.

"There were encouraging signs in this match but two hours of poor cricket almost cost us the game."

Earlier on Thursday, Queensland set a paltry victory total of 68 after at one stage losing 4-11 to be bundled out for 175 in their second dig.

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