INNISFAIL product Ben Dunk was caught up in controversy early in his cameo debut knock for the Bulls last night, as Queensland felt it was denied a Twenty20 Gabba triumph by an umpiring blunder.

The Bushrangers were deemed three-run victors under the Duckworth Lewis method after rained spoiled a thrilling run-chase with the Bulls 6-121 after 16 overs chasing 158.

The Bulls, with Craig Philipson in good touch on 33 not out, needed to be 125 on the revised total when the rain fell to have claimed the match.

But Queensland skipper Chris Simpson was dumbfounded why a Ben Dunk (18 off 11 balls) hook shot off Dirk Nannes was not ruled a six in the first over of the home side’s reply. Victorian John Hastings leapt from outside the boundary rope at deep fine leg and batted the ball inside the rope.

The on-field umpires checked with third umpire Norm McNamara who let the one run stand rather than six.

Simpson felt it cost his side five runs which would have given his side victory in the final wash-up.

In a dramatic series opener, the Bulls captain also rued dropping both of Victoria’s star imports as Kiwi Ross Taylor and Dwayne Bravo combined for a remarkable comeback victory.

With six sixes between them, man-of-the-match Taylor belted 58 from 36 balls and Bravo 36 from 18 as they made Simpson pay for his lapses.

The big-name recruits lifted the Victorians to 8-157 after they were a perilous 3-5.

Simpson, who won the toss and rightly put the Vics into bat on a lively wicket, cost his side dearly when he spilt a sitter at first slip before Taylor scored. If it was taken, the Bushrangers would have been 4-5 in the third over.

The Bulls did, however, produce some sensational fielding.

Debutant keeper Dunk and Lee Carseldine each flew through the air for diving catches off Ryan Harris (3-23) to dismiss Rob Quiney and David Hussey respectively.

The Gabba crowd of 7782 roared when Andrew Symonds strode to the wicket but he was rusty with the bat before falling for 16.

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