Queensland (and Labuschagne) stared at the pitch in disfavour as play began. By now it resembled straw-coloured sandpaper. The pace had gone out of it, and there was little promise of spin. But if the seamers pitched the ball up and allowed it to swing and seam, who knew what might happen? Which they promptly did. Vidler and Neser bowled sharply with the new ball, and with the advent of Steketee’s steep bounce at first change, in no time at all the home side was 3/28 and staring at defeat. Hunt, McInerney and McSweeney did little wrong. When you are caught low down in the slips from a delivery at which you had to offer a vertical bat; or fend at an exploding leg-cutter on off-stump; then you may well trudge back to the pavilion knowing you did all the right things. Not that this is much comfort.
It ought to have been four down when Steketee induced another edge from Sangha. The ball was heading straight for Khawaja at slip; but McDermott threw out a hand to it and muffed it. The only blame derives from the fact, evident in hindsight, that the two slippers were standing a yard too close. Thereafter Sangha and Carey set to work with a will. The ball grew old; the bowlers’ immaculate line and length frayed, and the game slipped slowly into the sunset for the Bulls. Steketee was a constant menace, and Neser contrived some late reverse swing; but the two Redbacks were not having any of that and pushed remorselessly on towards victory.
It must be said of Swepson that he bowled acceptably. Neither better nor worse than that. After the first twenty overs Labuschagne’s best option was to pin his faith in the leg-spinner and persevere with him. Sometimes he drew sharp turn out of the rough; but not often enough to bring results. The right-handed Sangha clubbed him for a six over square leg; but thereafter took few liberties. Carey, faced with a capable leggie bowling into his stumps from around the wicket, launched a savage counterattack. Two lofted drives tantalised the mid-on fielders, but their hands clutched at the air in vain. Wildermuth could do nothing with his mediums, and the target shrank almost to zero.
A curious feature of the match has been the many who have reached a century and got out. With forty needed Carey lost his stumps to a Steketee full-toss. Lehmann lost his to Swepson, who grabbed a too long belated wicket. Vidler removed Scott for a duck, and with ten still required Queensland dared hope for a moment. But the ebullient Manenti extinguished their chances with a few brisk strokes and the game was won. Sangha’s unbeaten 126 was the difference. That, and Queensland’s first innings collapse. They were always several parasangs off the pace thereafter.
Plaudits are due to the Redbacks, and their coach Ryan Harris. Seam bowling has never been their strength, pace a Gillespie or two; but Harris enjoyed a brief flowering as a Test paceman pitching full and allowing the ball to swing and seam. He has taught his padawan apprentices well.