Blues win Champions League
New South Wales Blues stunned Trinidad & Tobago by 41 runs to win Friday's Champions League Twenty20 final in Hyderabad.
T&T appeared to have gained the advantage when seamers Ravi Rampaul and Dwayne Bravo engineered a top-order collapse - leaving NSW in danger of being bowled out for under 100. But Brett Lee rescued the innings with an excellent 48, and Steven Smith contributed 33 as NSW - tottering at 83 for six at one stage - recovered to reach 159 for nine.
Lee then claimed two early wickets as T&T faltered at the start of their chase - and although several batsmen got starts, they never recovered and were bowled out for 118 in 15.5 overs.
David Warner was just beginning to settle into his customary aggressive role when he lost Phil Hughes - bowled by Rampaul for just three.
Bravo then had Warner, caught brilliantly by Dave Mohammed at backward point, in an expensive first over and followed up with the prized scalp of Simon Katich in his next.
NSW's middle order then fell apart but Smith eased the pressure with consecutive big hits off Kieron Pollard, before Lee launched his attack.
His innings was peppered with five sixes as he hauled NSW past the 150-run mark. Lee was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings, attempting to reach his half-century with another big shot off Rampaul but picking out William Perkins at deep cover.
When T&T batted, Lee dislodged opener Perkins for a second-ball duck and then took a stunning return catch to get rid of Lendl Simmons.
Leg-spinner Smith, who shared the new ball, claimed Adrian Barath in his first over and then Daren Ganga to end a fifth-wicket stand with Denesh Ramdin just when the pair were beginning to look dangerous.
T&T's remaining hopes rested with Pollard, who had destroyed NSW in a group match. The big hitter took three singles from the first six balls he faced, before smacking Doug Bollinger for his first six. He clubbed Nathan Hauritz for two more but eventually skied to Lee - who took a good catch on the long-off boundary.
