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QLD CLINCH IMPARJA CUP!

Saturday 23 February 2013

Queensland has won its sixth Imparja Cup trophy in a decade with an upset win over the previously unbeaten NSW tonight in the Final in Alice Springs.

After losing its first two matches, including one to NSW, Queensland timed its run to perfection; winning six games in a row to claim the National Indigenous championship.

It was the first time Queensland had won the trophy since 2009, with NSW winning the past two Finals.

The victory came off the back of some exceptional efforts by experienced hands Brad Stout, Glen Martin and Ashley Renouf, who showed the value of their composure and skills.

The Final, played under lights at Traeger Park, saw Queensland blast out of the blocks to compile a competitive 5-150 before disciplined bowling and fielding saw them restrict NSW to 7-111 from their 20 overs.

NSW won the toss and invited Queensland to bat, an invitation that Townsville left-hander Stout eagerly accepted.

The Queensland Country representative belted 46 from 32 balls, including four monster sixes, as he and Ipswich-Logan allrounder Worrin Williams put on an opening stand of 79 from 10 overs.

The pair were dismissed within an over of each other, but Wests allrounder John Hay and Wynnum-Manly allrounder Cameron Trask ensured the score reached a competitive 150.

Hay dashed off 31 from 18 balls, including two mighty sixes, one of which went out of the ground, while Trask kept the runs flowing with 18 from 18.

NSW fielded well, and made the most of their opportunities with Damien Duroux completing two run outs and taking two good catches.

Duroux was to play a lone hand for NSW, top-scoring with 43 as an opener, but the Blues battled to build momentum after losing the dangerous Pat Rosser for a duck bowled by Renouf in the first over.

Renouf finished with 3-19 from 4 overs while Martin, who finished as the leading wicket-taker with 18 for the tournament, had 2-17 from four overs.

Redlands paceman Jake Kubinek kept the scoring down, finishing with 0-13 from three overs, as well as claiming a run-out, while Alex Melville picked up 1-15 from two overs.

Stout was the second leading runs-scorer for the tournament with 188, with Trask (157) and Williams (152) in third and fourth spot respectively.

WA batsman Michael Bailey had 223 runs for the series.