Queensland fightback falls short in opening Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales

Michael Neser and Billy Stanlake did all they could in a final-day fightback, but it wasn’t enough for Queensland to stop New South Wales claiming an outright victory in their Sheffield Shield opener

Steve Smith of the Blues walks off the field after being bowled out by Michael Neser of the Bulls during day 4 of the Marsh Sheffield Shield cricket match between the Queensland Bulls and the New South Wales Blues at the Gabba in Brisbane, Sunday, October 13, 2019. (AAP Image/Albert Perez) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

• AT LAST: Paine scores first century in 13 years

• DRAW: Vics, SA pile on the runs

Queensland skipper Usman Khawaja will demand more of his side heading into Friday’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia after the Bulls were left to rue missed opportunities and poor batting in Sunday’s five-wicket loss to NSW.

The Blues needed just 42 overs to chase down Queensland’s paltry target of 134 with Daniel Hughes (66*) and Peter Neville (31) leading the way in a frantic final day that yielded 10 wickets for just 216 runs.

What was to be an expected Blues canter quickly backfired when Bulls paceman Michael Neser and Billy Stanlake combined for five early wickets and Khawaja was confident of snaring a win before Hughes and Neville steadied the ship.

Stream international cricket Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS including every Australian Test, ODI and T20I on home soil. Get your 14-day free trial >

It’s been a long time since Smith had two low scores in a row. AAP Image/Albert Perez.

“We only needed five more wickets and one wicket we’d be into the bowlers but Nev(Peter Neville) and Hughesy (Dan Hughes) batted beautifully,” Khawaja said.

“A couple of decisions probably could’ve gone either way in that second innings but that’s the game.”

Neser (3-42 from 11 overs) wasted no time in removing David Warner, luring the first-innings century maker into a tentative push that flew to Khawaja at second slip for a golden duck and when Steve Smith (21) and Moises Henriques (8) edged to Jimmy Peirson in quick succession, the Bulls could smell blood.

Stanlake was next to strike, removing Nick Larkin and NIck Bertus in a three-ball burst that has the Blues reeling at 5-53 but that was to be Queensland last hurrah as Hughes and Neville rallied for an 81-run seventh wicket partnership.

The Bulls have just four days to lick their wounds before hosting South Australia and Khawaja, who posted scores of 1 and 24, is eager to make amends against the Redbacks.

Can Queensland pull off an unlikely win. AAP Image/Albert Perez.

“Disappointed to lose this one but as a team, we need to keep being better.

“This is our home turf and we’re normally quite good at the Gabba.

“We play a lot of cricket here so disappointed to lose here from a Queensland perspective but hopefully we can put our best foot forward next week.”

It was a fitting result for NSW’s dominance in a rain-affected clash but Queensland will rue their failure to cash in on their overnight score of 5-186.

The Bulls added just 14 runs during Sunday’s morning session before Jimmy Peirson (33) shouldered-arms a searing Trent Copeland delivery.

Queensland’s hopes of a defendable total then faded after Marnus Labuschagne (52) edged a rising Mitchell Starc delivery through to Peter Neville.

The impressive Neser (36) offered some lower-order spark to combine with Cameron Gannon (19*) for a steadying 48-run partnership but it wouldn’t be enough as Harry Conway swept the tail for his second five-wicket haul of the match.