Powerful Wildermuth knock a blessing for Bulls

A run-a-ball 66 from Jack Wildermuth helped Queensland recover from a poor start to post a competitive total of 9-264 in their Marsh One-Day Cup clash against Western Australia at the Gabba.

Sent into bat, the Bulls were in trouble early, slumping to 4-49 in overcast conditions.

But aided by Wildermuth, the experienced Joe Burns (47), wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson (35), and pacemen Michael Neser and Mark Steketee (23 each), the Bulls fought the way back into the contest.

It took a superb catch on the boundary from Test all-rounder Cameron Green to end Wildermuth’s innings in the 49th over.

Earlier, the Bulls lost captain Usman Khawaja in just the fourth over when he skied an attempted pull shot off the bowling of Matthew Kelly to fine leg, where Joel Paris took a comfortable catch to leave Queensland at 1-13.

Jack Wildermuth plays a pull shot during his innings of 66 against Western Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

The Bulls lost their second wicket with the score at just 31 when opener Sam Heazlett top-edged a pull, again off Kelly. Wicket-keeper Josh Inglis ran back and steadied to take the catch.

Queensland then slumped to 3-36 in the ninth over when Matt Renshaw, who scored a Sheffield Shield century just two days earlier, was out LBW off the bowling of Paris for just one.

Worse was to follow for the hosts in the 11th over when Test star Marnus Labuschagne was caught down the leg side by Inglis for 19 off the bowling of Paris to leave the Bulls four down for less than 50.

But the fightback then started, with Burns and Peirson putting on 74 runs for the fifth wicket before the arrival of Wildermuth, whose innings included five fours and two sixes.

Despite coming in for some late punishment, Paris was the best of the WA bowlers, finishing with 4-50 from 10 overs.

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