Drew, Paine and rain set up big Tasmania win

Tasmania 7 for 226 (Paine 73*) beat Queensland 6 for 63 (Drew 3-15) by 89 runs on D/L method
Scorecard

Brendan Drew led Tasmania's destructive bowling effort as they opened the FR Cup with an 89-run thrashing of the reigning champions Queensland on the Duckworth/Lewis method. Tim Paine's unbeaten 73 guided the Tigers to 7 for 226 and when heavy rain ended play in the 24th over of the chase the visitors had deflated the Bulls to 6 for 63.

Queensland's top order was expertly tied down by Brett Geeves and Adam Griffith, who restricted the Bulls to 2 for 33 after 15 overs. Clinton Perren had struggled to 16 from 47 balls when he succumbed to the mounting pressure, trying to cut a Drew delivery close to his body and edging to slip.

The next ball the Bulls were 4 for 42 when Aaron Nye slashed Drew to third man and Tasmania's debutant Mark Divin took a terrific catch sliding on his knees. Divin continued his impressive all-round entrance by enticing Craig Philipson to edge behind in his first over of medium pace shortly before the rain set in.

Divin had already justified his selection with 41 from 39 balls - including three powerful sixes slogged over midwicket - as he and Paine resurrected Tasmania after a wobbly start. The pair scored the bulk of the 83 that the Tigers added in the final ten overs.

They took advantage of a rule change this season that allows the batting side to nominate one of the two Powerplays; Tasmania started theirs in the 41st over and began the late push. The Bulls had opened their title defence well by sending Tasmania in and had them at 4 for 84 when Paine, normally a one-day opener, became a steadying influence at No. 6.

Tasmania earned a double bonus point from the victory and Daniel Marsh, the captain, was thrilled. "We were a little bit disappointed with our score but we knew we had to attack to defend that and the bowlers were fantastic," he said. "Six points at the start of the year is a real bonus."