Mac makes his mark Wright off the bat

BATTING conditions were closer to an opening day Sheffield Shield examination than a one-day match, but the state’s newest face justified his selection in Tasmania’s loss to Queensland.

It was a disappointing day for the Tigers as the Bulls secured a four-wicket victory at Blundstone Arena to book their spot in next week’s final, but debutant Mac Wright showed he has the characteristics to survive at the level.

The visitors won the crucial toss and invited the hosts to bat on a pitch offering plenty of assistance, a move that paid immediate dividends when Tasmania was reduced to 4-40 inside the first 15 overs.

But through the early carnage Wright, who took 21 balls to score his first run in Tigers colours, dug in his heels to compile 46 from 79 as part of the home side’s 223.

A breezy maiden one day half-century from Gurinder Sandhu (51 from 48) — who was run out via a direct hit from the deep failing to ground his bat coming back for a third run — and contributions from Simon Milenko (36) and James Faulkner (30) pushed Tasmania to a defendable total.

However, the class of overlooked Test batsman Usman Khawaja (86 not out, 128 balls) steered the Bulls across the line with 17 balls to spare.

“It wasn’t quite what I envisaged making the white ball debut but you had to do what you had to do in the situation,” said Wright, who credited an off-season playing in Ireland with helping elevate his game.

“Early on we were saying we would have to bat Shield style, I had to chew up a few dot balls but that was the role.

“If we were being realistic we were probably 30 runs short of being a competitive total, it was tough work out there this morning.

“The ball was moving around a fair bit and we lost a few early wicket. But stoked to get the opportunity.”

Max Bryant (33 from 29) got Queensland’s chase off to a flyer in improving batting conditions but his departure stemmed the run flow and when Bryce Street and Jimmy Pierson departed in consecutive deliveries the visitors still required 86.

Khawaja then found an ally in Jack Wildermuth (48) to kill off any hopes of a Tasmanian resurgence.

Jackson Bird (2-28) bowled 10 overs straight in a superb performance and Clive Rose impressed with 2-31.

The Tigers will finish their one day campaign against NSW tomorrow.