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Highlights: Lyon, Henriques deliver NSW one-day title

Why is Australia's best spinner continually ignored in the shorter forms? (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
23rd October, 2016
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Nathan Lyon tuned up for the first Test and reminded national selectors of his white-ball talent with a match-winning haul of 4-10 for NSW in Sunday’s domestic one-day cup final.

Lyon, who will be key to Australia’s hopes of victory in their three-Test series against South Africa that starts on November 3, made a mockery of North Sydney Oval’s reputation for monster totals.

The offspinner was named man of the match, having delivered his best figures at any level in a one-day game and the most economical 10-over figures by a NSW bowler in a domestic one-dayer.

Lyon claimed the key scalp of Usman Khawaja as Queensland collapsed to 7-108 in the 31st over and were bowled out for 186 after 46.5 overs.

NSW slipped to 3-19 in response but Moises Henriques steadied with a captain’s knock of 85 that helped the hosts haul in their target with 41 balls and six wickets remaining.

It was a timely return for Lyon, who was dropped by NSW for last Friday’s elimination final after claiming only four wickets during the pool stage of the tournament.

Prior to that, Lyon struggled on Australia’s 3-0 Test series loss in Sri Lanka.

“Offbreaks are still coming out of the hand as well as it has been over the last 18 months so I’ve just got to learn and adapt, that’s the big thing talking about the subcontinent,” Lyon said.

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“I know how to bowl here in Australia.

“I actually feel like I’ve been bowling OK. I know the stats and scorebooks don’t show that but here playing on small grounds on pretty good batting wickets, your best ball usually goes for six, especially on Test match length.

“I’ve actually been really happy with the way the ball has been coming out.”

Lyon was disappointed to be dropped by his state and noted he still harboured ambitions of an ODI recall, having been axed for Australia’s tour of South Africa earlier this month.

“My goal is to play all three formats for Australia and when you don’t get that, frustration is the word,” the 28-year-old said.

It is NSW’s 11th one-day title overall and the first time they have gone back to back in any competition since lifting the one-day cup in 2002-03.

Lyon claimed 3-3 from his first four overs and didn’t concede a single boundary in his 10 overs.

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Joe Burns, who like Khawaja is hoping for a Test recall when the squad is announced on Friday, ignited a collapse of 4-23 when he was run out for 18.

Khawaja, who top-scored with 35, loomed as the batsman most likely to build a respectable total.

Asked to bat first by Henriques, the Queensland skipper struck six boundaries before coming unstuck against spin.

The left-hander’s attempted sweep resulted in a skied edge that wicketkeeper Peter Nevill gleefully accepted.

Lyon also had man of the series Marnus Labuschagne caught in the deep, while he removed Jason Floros for a duck and Ben Cutting for eight.

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