Doug Bollinger may be the old bull in the paddock but proved he's not a spent force by leading NSW to a seven-wicket Sheffield Shield win over Queensland.
The Blues cruised to victory at the SCG on Monday, easily chasing down their target of 102 despite a few nervous moments after Nic Maddinson was out in the first over of the day.
Kurtis Patterson (31no) and Ben Rohrer (29no) guided the Blues past the post just 45 minutes into the final day, releasing the pressure valve on the side after an ill-fated fortnight.
It followed their abandoned match when opponents Victoria were awarded all six points due to the poor state of the SCG ground, then a shock loss to last-placed Tasmania.
They jumped past Queensland on the points table and will be looking to make a further statement when they meet the Bulls again in Mackay starting Sunday in their last game before the mid-season break.
The Blues' win was set up by their bowling attack, in particular Bollinger (3-23) and man of the match Stephen O'Keefe (4-38), as they routed the visitors for 145 in their second innings.
Most impressive was 34-year-old former Test paceman Bollinger's consistency. He bowled 39 overs for the match with 19 of them maidens.
After carrying the drinks for the first game of the season, Bollinger now has 12 wickets from his last two games.
The left-armer played the last of his 12 Tests in 2010 but is showing signs he has plenty still to offer at state level.
"(Bollinger) is bowling beautifully...it just goes to show how effective he still is," said Patterson.
Queensland captain Chris Hartley admitted the stranglehold applied by Bollinger and O'Keefe was instrumental in preventing his side to build partnerships.
"There was a period where NSW took wickets and were able to get that scoreboard pressure on us," Hartley said.
"From there they strangled us as we went down the order. That came from the class of Bollinger and O'Keefe.
"Bollinger has got a huge heart and he's an outstanding bowler and I wouldn't expect anything less than for him to be at each batsman."
NSW captain Moises Henriques is under a fitness cloud for next week's match with a calf strain.
He was injured bowling on day two and did not take the field again. The Blues said he would be assessed during the week.
For Queensland, batsman Chris Lynn is likely to come back into the side after clubbing 259 in grade cricket on the weekend in his second game back from a dislocated shoulder.
Share
