Queensland defeated the Cricket Australia XI by 34 runs in their one-day cup match at Drummoyne Oval, but in the end it was a case of near-misses all round as both sides fell short of the bonus-point win they needed to keep realistic finals hopes alive in the competition.
Hilton Cartwright briefly looked like he'd get the CA XI over the line, but he too fell narrowly short of claiming the fledgling team's first century in the competition by being run out for 99 following a mid-wicket mix-up.
The CA XI needed 50 off the final six overs with Cartwright still at the wicket.
However, his dismissal was the beginning of the end for the side, who were bowled out for 258 with 14 deliveries remaining.
They lost their final four wickets for the addition of just 16 runs, including 3-2 in one horror over.
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Player of the match Cartwright struck his 99 off 96 balls, in an innings which included four powerful sixes.
"It was a bit of a hard wicket to whack the ball around everywhere, and my aim was to get a run a ball and then you tend to get a boundary ball every over," said Cartwright.
"I wasn't thinking too much about it (the century) when I was on 99. It is a bit of a roller-coaster when you are in the 90s, but I was really thinking about facing up to each ball, then the end result."
The result leaves the CA XI with one win from their five outings, albeit having greatly improved since opening the competition with two record defeats.
"As we have gone on we have learnt a lot more about each others' games," Cartwright said. "We have learnt and adapted to different situations."
Queensland's top-scorer Nathan Reardon was also run out, but his dismissal came one run after reaching the century mark in a knock which lifted the Bulls to 7-282.
Reardon's knock came off 83 balls, with Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns offering valuable support as both scored 55.
Queensland now must win their final game against Western Australia on Wednesday with double-bonus points and hope other results go their way in order to progress to the finals. NSW have already qualified directly to the decider with the two next best placed teams facing off with the winner to meet the Blues.
