Bulls skittle Vics to take Pura Cup

Queensland crowned themselves the Pura Cup champions this afternoon, a Mitchell Johnson-led bowling attack rolling through the Victorian batting line-up to record a remarkable innings and 354-run victory.

The Bulls made light work of the final day, wrapping up proceedings in only 60 overs, with Johnson staking his claims for a berth in the ODI squad to Bangladesh next month in taking 6/51.

Johnson was backed up by spinner Daniel Doran, himself a born and bred Victorian before switching to Queensland in search of extra opportunities at domestic level – standing behind Shane Warne and Cameron White in the spin bowling queue.

Doran snapped up 3/33, removing the dangerous Nick Jewel (69) and Dave Hussey (37) before they were able to cut loose.

Victoria, in the dicey overnight position of 2/38, slumped to a heavy loss, losing their final eight wickets for the poultry total of 164.

They began in the worst fashion possible, losing batting trump card Brad Hodge to Johnson for 28, with the state yet to add an extra run to the overnight score.

Hussey and Jewel then set about a recovery mission, in an attempt to make the scoreboard look dismal instead of downright embarrassing.

After adding a brave 77 runs in a tick over 20 overs, Hussey fell to Doran, bowled through the gate for 37 runs, to add to his 72 in the first innings – one Bushranger to hold his head high despite the loss.

Doran continued to toil away at his end, and struck within four overs, sending Victorian skipper Cameron White and the consistent Jewel on their way for nine and 69 respectively, their side down and out at 6/163.

It became the Johnson show soon after, cutting the Bushrangers middle order to shreds, dismantling Moss (13), Pilon (8) and Harwood (3), reducing the dejected Vics to 9/195.

It was left to the evergreen Bull Andy Bichel to put the finishing touches on a season in which he was adjudged the best player in the competition.

The tireless Bichel found an edge from rookie paceman Dirk Nannes, caught by youngster Lachlan Stevens, the game – and season – over, the trophy Queensland’s after enduring two demoralising losses over the past two seasons – in differing circumstances.

The Bulls were wiped away by a Matthew Elliot inspired Victoria in the 2003/2004 decider, before losing by one wicket in a dramatic loss to NSW at the Gabba last season, tailender Stuart MacGill nudging the winning runs, causing Queensland captain Jimmy Maher to shed a tear.

Maher avenged the horrors of previous years with a dynamic 223 in the Queensland innings, and, with support from stalwarts Love, Watson and Perrin, saw the Bulls to the freakish score.

With the season now over, Queensland are able to sit back and saver the victory, while the Vics will land in Tullamarine pondering what might have been.

Full scorecard available here.

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