da supremo： The opener James Hopes belted 75 off 61 balls to set up Queensland’s 59-run win over the last-placed South Australia at the Gabba
Cricinfo staff03-Dec-2008
Scorecard
James Hopes put Queensland on track for a comfortable victory © Getty Images
The opener James Hopes belted 75 off 61 balls to set up Queensland’s 59-run win over the last-placed South Australia at the Gabba. The Redbacks started well but lost their final seven wickets for 27 runs to drop to 205 and the Bulls eased to a Duckworth-Lewis victory when rain ended the contest 20 overs early.Hopes sent a reminder of his all-round credentials to the national selectors with two wickets and a fierce half-century, which included 11 fours and a six. His play straight down the ground was impressive but he got too adventurous as he closed on a century and was caught at long-on from the bowling of Dan Cullen.Clinton Perren put on 101 for the first wicket with Hopes before edging to Graham Manou and the home team’s only major threat was a wild electrical storm that hit with it 3 for 163 after 30 overs. Play was called off with Shane Watson, who launched a big six over midwicket, on 23, and the win moved the Bulls to second.South Australia were cruising at 1 for 127 after winning the toss, but their slump began when they lost the important wickets of Younis Khan and Michael Klinger, who both scored 60, in the same over from Chris Swan. Each batsman had looked comfortable in the 114-run stand before Younis heaved to deep square-leg and Klinger played on.Things went seriously wrong when they lost 4 for 1, including the needless run-outs of Callum Ferguson and Mark Cleary, and fell to 7 for 183. Watson finished the innings with back-to-back wickets to continue the good work of Swan and Hopes.