Sutherland and Maxy fire Vics

SOME inspired bowling from teenage paceman Will Sutherland has helped Victoria open the domestic cricket season with a nervy 13-run one-day cup win over Queensland in Townsville yesterday.

In pursuit of a gettable target of 241 for victory, Queensland was immediately on the back foot, slipping to 6-79 before eventually being dismissed for 227 from 46.5 overs.

At 8-145, Queensland appeared dead and buried, but an unlikely run-a-ball 77 from No.9 Mitch Swepson carried the home side to within sight of an improbable victory.

In just his third match in the competition, Sutherland returned figures of 5-45 from his 10 overs, having dismissed five of Queensland’s seven recognised batsman, including Bulls captain and T20 superstar Chris Lynn, caught for a threeball duck after flashing a wide ball to point.

Earlier, Test discard Glenn Maxwell provided the backbone of the Victorian innings with a typically confident 80 off 91 balls.

Maxwell received strong support from Nic Maddinson, with the new arrival from NSW scoring 68 from 82 balls as the pair added 101 for the fifth wicket.

It was an otherwise indifferent display with the bat by the Vics, who were 3-40 early on and eventually fell nine balls shy of completing their full 50-over allotment.

Paceman Mark Steketee starred for Queensland with the ball, returning 4-35 off eight overs.