NSW set final date with Queensland

The Matador BBQs One-Day Cup final will have a State of Origin feel to it after the NSW Blues thumped Victoria to advance to Sunday's decider against Queensland.

NSW's international-quality pace attack was the key to their five-wicket triumph over the Bushrangers on Friday night, validating their surprise decision to leave Test spinner Nathan Lyon out of the side.

The powerful four-pronged pace attack of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Doug Bollinger and Trent Copeland helped to restrict the Vics to just 242 in 49.3 overs.

NSW cruised for most of the run chase before, in a bizarre end to the match, heavy rain forced players from the field with the Blues needing just five runs to win with four overs remaining.

But the players decided to shake hands as they walked off the ground before officials confirmed that the Blues had won by 31 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Nic Maddinson (86 from 98 balls) was the star of the chase, while Daniel Hughes was replaced in the NSW side by concussion substitute Nick Larkin after the opener was struck on the helmet during his innings of 23.

It was the first time a concussion substitute has been used under Cricket Australia's new concussion policy, and Larkin was about to bat when the rain tumbled down.

Quick Single: Hughes blow leads to first concussion sub

The result means the Blues will take on the myFoot Dr Queensland Bulls at North Sydney Oval on Sunday for a shot at back-to-back titles.

Hughes retired hurt when the score was on 38 after he was struck by a Peter Siddle delivery, before Maddinson joined Ed Cowan for a crucial partnership of 107.

Cowan departed for 64, his fourth half-century of the tournament, before Maddinson pushed on with another match-winning innings, included two consecutive sixes onto the hill at the bayside Drummoyne Oval, the first of which was brilliantly caught by a young spectator.

Siddle, a late inclusion in Victoria's side after John Hastings was ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken finger, finished with 1-39 from 10 overs as he continues his comeback from ankle and back injuries.

Earlier, Blues skipper Moises Henriques elected to bowl first and his pace-heavy attack struck early as Cummins, returning to cricket this month after a year-long absence due to a serious back injury, had the tournament's leading run-scorer Cameron White chopping on for just 4.

And wickets tumbled at regular intervals from that point, with only Australia's ODI opener Aaron Finch (51 from 36 balls) gaining any momentum on a two-paced surface.

Finch's dismissal in the 12th over, bowled by Bollinger, enabled the Blues to turn the screws thanks to the likes of Hazlewood (2-35 from 10 overs) and Henriques (1-23 from seven).

Victoria's other top-scorers, Matthew Wade (41 from 60 balls), Glenn Maxwell (38 from 48) and Dan Christian (38 off 55), were all unable to get out of second gear against the Blues quicks.

Tail-ender Chris Tremain (26 from 31 balls) added some handy runs late on after Victoria's top seven all perished with more than six overs remaining in the innings.

Cummins copped some punishment from Finch early on, including four boundaries in just one over, but responded to finish with 3-46, while Bollinger (2-47 from 10 overs) and Copeland (2-62 from 10) also got crucial breakthroughs.

The Vics are without allrounder John Hastings, who is set to be out of action for up to six weeks after breaking his left index finger during training on Thursday.

Hastings' spot in the side has been taken by Test quick Peter Siddle, who had dropped out of Victoria's squad after playing two matches last week, his first hit-out back from back and ankle injuries. The right-armer's return to action is being carefully managed by Cricket Australia, but the injury to Hastings has seen the 31-year-old return to the 14-man squad.