KHAWAJA INFLICTS MORE PAIN ON TIGERS IN ONE-DAYER

TASMANIA crashed and burned in its Marsh Cup onedayer against Queensland at Blundstone Arena yesterday, but Tigers quick Jackson Bird endorsed the 50-over format this summer.

Despite an Usman Khawaja-led four-wicket loss to the Bulls with 14 balls to spare, tacking games onto the backend of Sheffield Shield games got Bird’s vote of approval.

The Tigers and Bulls had only a day to recover from their exciting Shield contest from Wednesday to Saturday, and that was fine by Bird.

“We had a pretty good day off and once we got moving this morning it was all right, not too hard physically – I’ve done that in the past, so I knew what to expect,” Bird said.

Bird believes it gives local talent an even chance to play domestic one-dayers.

“The more one-day cricket was can play spread out across the year is better for our oneday players coming through,” he said.

“I gives more opportunity for some young guys to get a game here and there for their states.

“When you have the games over a couple of weeks at the start of the season, it’s too hard to pick guys on form.

“It’s a much better format like this and I think the majority of guys would agree.”

Tasmania was sent into bat

and a half-century stand by skipper Tim Paine (28 runs off 50 balls) and Caleb Jewell (36 off 27) ended on 55, when Bull Billy Stanlake took the first scalp of his four-wicket haul.

The Tigers then lost 4-42 as Queensland managed to apply the brakes.

Jordan Silk’s stellar form continued as he held the innings together with a face-saving 77 runs off 88, and bowlers Nathan Ellis (21 off 41) and Bird (27 off 25) did what other batters could not, and stood up to Queensland.

Queensland’s pursuit of 237 went like clockwork, with Khawaja compiling 93 off 107 and getting the Bulls (6-238) almost to the finish line.

Khawaja and Joe Burns, batting at number five, shared an 87-run stand.

Stanlake did not play in the Shield match.

“It has been a long stay here sitting on the pine, and it had been a couple of weeks since I played my last game in club cricket back in Brisbane,” he said. “Any chance to get out and play, I always enjoy it.”