By Chris Barrett
The suburban Sydney grounds that have hosted most of the Matador Cup haven't always been Nathan Lyon's friends.
Prior to Sunday's final, Australia's Test spinner had endured a mostly unhappy tournament, even dropped by the state side for last Friday's preliminary final.
But the tables were turned dramatically against Queensland at North Sydney Oval on Sunday as he played a lead hand in delivering the Blues back-to-back domestic one-day titles with a convincing six-wicket victory.
Many a spinner has spent their afternoons at North Sydney turning their neck to watch balls sail out of the venue, but this was Lyon's day, ripping through the Queensland top order with precise delivery and expert change of pace.
Return to form: Nathan Lyon celebrates with Peter Nevill after dismissing Ben Cutting.Credit: Getty Images
At one point, soon after removing opposition captain Usman Khawaja for 35, he had 3-3 in his fourth over. He ended with 4-10 from his full 10, and Queensland were bowled out for 186. Despite an early scare at 3-19, captain Moises Henriques (85) and Kurtis Patterson (77 not out) were able to steer the Blues past that total with 41 balls remaining.
"To be honest, I've actually felt like I've been bowling OK," man of the match Lyon said. "I know the stats and the scorebooks don't show that but here, playing on the small grounds and good batting wickets, your best ball usually goes for six."
For Lyon, being left out of the line-up last Friday – as NSW opted for four fast bowlers against Victoria – had been disappointing. The fact he has been repeatedly snubbed by selectors when it comes to the national one-day side is also a source of frustration, he readily admits. He was overlooked for the recent South Africa series and featured only intermittently elsewhere this year.
"I suppose frustration is the word, but I've just got to keep coming out and putting my hand up for selection," Lyon said.
Champions: The Blues players enjoy victory in the domestic one-day cup at North Sydney Oval.Credit: Getty Images
Another who is doing that is Henriques, with his display wrapping up a fine individual tournament that with 414 runs at 69 put him behind only Victoria's Cameron White as the competition's leading run scorer.
Henriques batted at No.5 for Australia in their most recent Test in Sri Lanka, and while Mitchell Marsh will be the all-rounder against South Africa in the first Test at the WACA Ground from November 3, the Blues captain can continue to make an impression on national selectors in the day-night Sheffield Shield match against Queensland in Brisbane this week.
Swinging for the fences: Moises Henriques hits a six during his match-winning knock.Credit: Getty Images
"He's definitely playing well," Lyon said. "Who knows where selection is going these days? You've just got to keep playing well and putting your hand up no matter who you're playing for."
The NSW triumph was noteworthy, not simply for the margin but for the number and quality of the players who were missing from the Blues team. Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc played no part in the tournament, Josh Hazlewood appeared only twice and was rested for the final, Steve O'Keefe sat out the competition with injury, Ben Rohrer played only one game before suffering a groin injury and the in-form Daniel Hughes was ruled out of the decider with concussion.