It was all about the sixes, but not from the batsmen as Tasmania beat NSW by three wickets at Bellerive on Saturday night.

Veteran Tigers spinner Jason Krejza and unheralded Blues paceman Scott Coyte each grabbed six wickets in the one-day clash, but it was Krejza’s side who got home with 31 balls remaining.

The pair’s stunning efforts overshadowed a classy century from former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja and an impressive 94 from Tasmanian captain George Bailey, who had flown into Hobart on Saturday morning after skippering Australia in its Twenty20 clash with India.

The win took Tasmania to the top of the table and gave them a chance of hosting the final on February 25, while NSW’s final hopes were ended.

Krejza finished with 6-55 from 11.5 overs for his afternoon’s work as the Blues failed to capitalise on Khawaja’s ton in being bowled out for 230 in the 48th over.

The 29-year-old took the key wickets of Nic Maddinson (31 off 46 balls) and Steve Smith (45 off 64), the only NSW batsmen to provide any real support to Khawaja, and grabbed two scalps in the 44th over as the Blues lost their last six wickets for 18 runs.

Enter Coyte, a 26-year-old tradesman who removed Tigers opener Jonathan Wells for one in his opening over and Test star Ed Cowan for six in his second, both with impressive swing.

By the end of the night, Coyte had 6-60 from 12.5 overs, including the prized scalp of Bailey.

Tigers opener Mark Cosgrove and Bailey had fought back after the home side were 2-8, but Cosgrove (52 off 63 balls) was out lbw to Nathan Hauritz almost immediately after bringing up his half century and it was 3-90.

James Faulkner (9 off 12) gave Coyte his third wicket when he miscued a pull shot at 4-123 and the paceman had four when Ashton May was caught for a duck at 5-140.

When Coyte snared the wickets of Bailey and Krejza in the 41st over, it was 7-199 and game on before Luke Butterworth’s 42 not out ensured the Tigers got home.