Western Australia have moved a step closer to qualifying for the Sheffield Shield final while ending Queensland hopes of doing the same with a 95-run win against the Bulls at Allan Border Field.
The contest was evenly poised at tea with the Bulls requiring 185 runs to win with seven wickets in hand but a collapse of 7-75 saw them all out for 216 chasing 312.
Despite the Bulls having the dangerous Chris Lynn at the crease after tea, WA skipper Adam Voges remained confident his side could seal the result in the final session.
"We felt if we continued to hit good areas they had to keep coming (at us). We got the ball to start reverse swinging and I think that was really important," Voges said.
"We always knew Lynn was the key wicket and to get him early on set things in motion."
Ashton Agar (3-41) and Andrew Tye (3-47) did the damage for the Warriors with the only Queensland resistance coming from Lynn (52 off 75 balls), Charlie Hemphrey (45) and Cameron Boyce (42 off 45).
The outright result sends WA back to second on the Shield ladder after they dropped to third earlier in the day due to Victoria and NSW defeating South Australia and Tasmania respectively.
Sunday's results mean that Friday's clash between WA and NSW at Perth will decide one spot in the Shield final with Victoria needing to avoid defeat against Tasmania to maintain top spot on the ladder.
"We probably knew that last game against NSW was going to decide our fate," said Voges, who made twin fifties against the Bulls.
"We can only control what happens in Perth for the next game. We're coming off two really good wins away from home - at Newcastle against NSW and to win a tough four-day game up here - so we'll take a lot of confidence from that."
The 95-run loss leaves the Bulls with only pride to play for in their final round match against South Australia starting on Friday at the Gabba.
Share
