Warriors demolish lacklustre Bulls

Western Australia's campaign for the ING Cup is back after easily defeating the Queensland Bulls by six-wickets at the WACA Ground in Perth tonight.

The home side was spurred on by Ryan Campbell, who announced his retirement from cricket yesterday.

With the Bulls scoring a modest 7 for 197 off their 50 overs, overhauling the target looked easy for the Warriors as Ronchi swung the bat for seven boundaries in a pulsating knock of 31 (off 25 balls). He shared a first wicket partnership of 41 with Justin Langer, who was returning to the domestic level after completing duties with the Australian Test team.

Ronchi fell in the seventh over when he edged to Nathan Hauritz at cover. Campbell entered to a standing ovation and set about ending the match swiftly, stranded on four after facing 16 balls, he tore into the bowlers with six boundaries and a six in the next 23 balls before he fell while attempting another big bash in the 18th over.

Bulls rookie Ryan Broad took the skied catch at deep square leg.

The Warriors, while Campbell was at the crease, appeared set for the rare double-bonus point target - a win inside 25 overs. However, his exit - also to a standing ovation saw the run rate slow to a stroll in the park as Langer and Shaun Marsh consolidated and were content to guide the home team to the 198-run target inside 40 overs.

With victory closing in the Steven Paulsen snared two late wickets of Marsh, bowled for 44 and Voges with a return catch. Paulsen was the best of the bowlers with 2/19, while Kasprowicz finished with 1/26 from eight overs. Langer was not out 59 and hit the winning runs, while team-mate Rogers remained unbeaten on one.

Earlier, Western Australia won the toss and sent Queensland into bat with a forecast of rain, though never arrived. The Bulls made a mediocre start and scored only seven runs in the first five overs, and it took nine overs before the first boundary, hit by Broad, was recorded.

Broad and Maher eventually opened up and played some shots with consecutive strokes to the fence saw the total past 50 in the 16th over. Warriors rookie bowler Matthew Petrie snared the first wicket, that of Broad, lbw for 31 in the 18th over. Petrie finished his debut spell with 1/34 from seven overs.

Marsh then took one of the best catches at deep square leg, a diving effort to dismiss Clinton Perren for 13, while Paulsen followed in the next over for a third ball duck. Queensland were 3-91 after 25 overs.

It took a further four overs for Maher and Nash to guide the total over the century. Maher (45) was the fourth Bull to fall when he attempted a reverse sweep off Casson's bowling, in the 32nd over, but only managed to hit to Campbell at backward point.

Hartley was the second Queenslander who failed to trouble the score attendant in a brisk 10 ball innings that ended with Casson claiming his third wicket with Langer taking an easy catch at first slip.

Former international Andrew Bichel blasted his highest score of the season, three sixes helped him rocket past the half-century and the Bulls closer to 200, however he fell attempting a fourth six in the final over when he was caught at long-on by Peter Worthington.

Next match, both teams return for the Pura Cup match that begins here on Sunday.

Both teams next match in the ING Cup is on January 25, the Warriors host the Southern Redbacks while the Bulls host the Bushrangers in Brisbane.

Full scorecard available here.

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