Queensland pacemen Gurinder Sandhu and Kane Richardson have combined for the largest 10th-wicket partnership in Marsh Cup history and hoisted the Bulls to a stunning one-wicket defeat of NSW.
The Blues posted only 217 runs at the usually batter-friendly North Sydney Oval on Monday but looked on track to defend the total courtesy of part-time paceman Jack Edwards (4-38) and debutant Jack Nisbet (3-59).
The pair tore their way through Queensland's top order, before the Bulls' last specialist batter Sam Heazlett (58) hit Chris Green to Edwards at point.
With their anchor gone, the visitors sputtered to 9-146 and their chances of victory appeared all but over.
Sandhu (46 off 45 balls) and Richardson (36 off 34) were Queensland's last hopes, and while both are competent with the willow, neither could be said to be an all-rounder.
But the Queensland quicks struck up a surprise 73-run partnership that yielded 12 boundaries.
"I've been working on my batting for the last three of four years. I think I've improved," Sandhu said.
"I've been able to score a few runs, probably not as consistently as any batter would like.
"But it was just good to stand up last week in the Sheffield Shield game and then today to stand up and actually bring the team home and win with Richo."
Their efforts eclipsed the competition's previous best 10th-wicket stand - a 61-run partnership by Queensland's Chris Hartley and Nathan Rimmington against Tasmania in November, 2010.
Sandhu was particularly important, hitting Nisbet for back-to-back fours in the 31st over, while Richardson smacked the debutant over long on for six two overs later.
When Sandhu hit Edwards straight down the ground for four, the deficit was into single figures, and moments later Richardson belted Ben Dwarshuis over long off for a six that sealed a famous victory in the 38th over.
"Best shot of the day, best shot of the season, maybe," said Sandhu.
"I had full trust in Kane and he had full trust in me.
"We just worked together, chatting every over, just trying to get each other through for the next one, and the next one and the next one.
"I couldn't have done it without him, no way."
Sandhu (2-20) had been similarly influential with his bowling earlier in the day, swinging the ball with ease and reducing the Blues to 2-4 inside three overs.
He could have had a third early wicket but was denied an lbw appeal against Moises Henriques, who went on to steady the NSW innings in a 126-run partnership with opener Daniel Hughes (59).
Henriques brought up his half-century by pulling Matt Renshaw over deep mid-wicket for one of his four sixes and went on to make a match-high 82.
But Jack Wildermuth broke the partnership when he caught Hughes at fine leg from Liam Guthrie's bowling in the 22nd over, sparking a NSW collapse of 8-87.
