A brilliant spell of pace bowling from Queensland quick Steve Magoffin on Saturday gave the Bulls renewed hope of a Sheffield Shield final spot.
With NSW on target to build an impressive total in overcast conditions on a green SCG wicket, Magoffin (6-44) turned the match on its head when he snared four wickets in nine balls as the Blues crumbled from 5-236 to 9-238 in the first session on day three.
A fighting 31-run partnership between Blues skipper Stephen O’Keefe (15) and tailender Trent Copeland (13) pushed NSW’s total to 269.
Magoffin started the rout when he had Steve Smith (53) caught behind hooking, before knocking over Peter Nevill (8) and Scott Coyte (0) in consecutive balls to notch his eighth first-class five-wicket haul and be on a hat-trick.
Mitchell Starc barely survived the hat-trick ball, but Magoffin removed him the next over for a duck.
“It was very close,” Magoffin said of the hat-trick delivery which came within a whisker of catching the edge of Starc’s bat.
” … It’s pretty bowler-friendly conditions. It was good to take advantage of that when it was available.”
On a rain-affected day in which just 26.2 overs were bowled, the second-placed Bulls were only able to reach 0-5 before play was stopped due to the weather.
Queensland, just two points ahead of Tasmania, will be desperate to secure first-innings points by scoring 270.
But Magoffin, who also dismissed under-pressure Test ‘keeper Brad Haddin (15), admits it will be a difficult task considering the conditions, although less rain is forecast for the fourth day’s play on Sunday.
“It’s a very good score on that wicket,” Magoffin said.
“There’s lots left in the wicket. They’ve got a pretty decent bowling lineup with Starcy (Starc) and Copes (Copeland).
“It’s going to be a challenge for our top order but we bat quite deep in this game.
“… As long as we can get on the field, we’ll be trying to get points.
“We’ve known for quite a while that our most important game coming up is going to be that final game against South Australia. We have to take maximum points there.”
It was a sensational return for Magoffin, who was delisted by Western Australia at the end of last season and has had to force his way into the Queensland lineup via grade cricket.
“That was a bit disappointing how that eventuated over there with my career in Perth,” he said.
“Queensland were great. I wasn’t promised anything … but they were open and honest and told me exactly what I needed to do.
“And if I did those things, I’d be considered. And that’s happened.”
Entry to the match will be free on Sunday, with Cricket NSW opening the gates to all spectators.
Play is scheduled to start at 10.30am (AEDT) with 112 overs to be bowled.
