Cricket: Vettori stars for ... Queensland?

Daniel Vettori celebrates after he took a wicket during the Queensland Bulls' victory over the NSW Blues in Sydney last night. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Vettori became an honorary Queenslander as he inspired a demolition of New South Wales before a record Australian domestic Twenty20 cricket crowd in Sydney last night.

The New Zealand captain took three catches, and figures of one for seven off two overs as Queensland won the rain-shortened match by 54 runs at ANZ Stadium.

A 90-minute rain delay reduced the match to nine overs a side, but that didn't stop a crowd of 29,743 turning out, which topped the previous Australian domestic record by almost 1000.

Queensland posted an imposing 110 for four, with former Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds clubbing 38 not out off 21 balls.

Then Vettori, after scoring three not out and surviving a hat-trick ball from West Indies allrounder Dwayne Smith, took a magnificent diving catch to remove NSW opener Phil Hughes first ball.

Vettori also took outfield catches to remove Dwayne Smith and Steve Smith, then took a wicket with his fifth ball when he bowled Ben Rohrer. NSW were restricted to 56 for seven.

Queensland moved to third on the ladder with the win, and if they beat Western Australia on Saturday then Vettori will return on Tuesday to play the preliminary final.

Vettori's day began before dawn as he left Invercargill, where he'd played for Northern Districts the previous day, and flew to Sydney where he arrived a few hours before the match.

He was due to fly out early this morning and rejoin his ND teammates for their match in Mt Maunganui tomorrow.

- NZPA