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Queensland captain Chris Hartley had plenty of reasons to complain after a thrilling Sheffield Shield loss to Western Australia, but remains confident the Bulls can host the final let alone make it.
Queensland appeared on track for the win at the WACA Ground in the final session when 2-162 chasing 282 after both teams set up a potential result on the final day.
WA lifted the run rate in their second innings making 5-291dec with Michael Klinger (102 not out) and Shaun Marsh (109) starring with the bat.
The Bulls were on top with a win set to take them within one point of the table topping Victoria and almost nine points clear of the third placed NSW.
However, they lost their last eight wickets for 75 despite 102 from Charles Renshaw to fall 24 runs short.
That leaves Queensland 6.96 points behind Victoria but they host the Bushrangers at the Gabba next week before WA travel to the Gabba and victories in both could see Hartley’s men host the final.
“We play the team that’s in front of us next week,” Hartley said.
“So if we beat them everything’s level and we look at what happens in the last round.”
Hartley had plenty of reasons to be unhappy on a final day which began with a delay of an hour due to a wet wicket area after overwatering the previous night.
That delay was added to the end of the day meaning with the Bulls nearing their target with the bat, it was nearing darkness while Joel Paris and Michael Hogan were tearing in.
The pair took seven wickets between them with Paris’ performance all the more frustrating for the Bulls given he was 100 per cent fresh having not played the first three days with Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was then rested at the request of Cricket Australia, in the team.
Hartley wasn’t complaining, but had every reason to be unhappy.
“We had four days of sunshine with no rain so it seemed pretty unusual to lose an hour of play to a wet wicket block. I’m sure the WACA and whoever else that needs to look into that, will look into that,” Hartley said.
“Cricket Australia need to manage certain players and if that’s what they think the best way to do it in the Sheffield Shield is, then we will play by those rules.
“I’m sure our batsmen will want to face the best bowlers possible so if that means those two players had to be rotate in and out, that’s fine.”
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