NSW survive late scare to hand WA rare defeat

NSW's next generation stunned Western Australia in the Marsh One-Day Cup, scraping home to hand the defending champions their first defeat in the format in almost two years.

Perennial battlers in domestic cricket for the last season-and-a-half, the Blues survived a late wobble to take a two-wicket, rain-affected win at Sydney's Cricket Central on Saturday.

Led by teenage quick William Salzmann with the ball, NSW were able to bowl Western Australia out for 216.

They were then cruising to the revised target of 222 at 4-206, before losing 4-11 and leaving Salzmann to finish the chase with one over to spare of the allotted 43.

The victory marked the first time Western Australia have been beaten in one-day cricket since late November 2021, with 12 wins on the trot since then.

But they were outplayed for the majority of Saturday, with the likes of Salzmann and NSW debutant Blake MacDonald starring.

Salzmann set the tone in the first over of the match when he had D'Arcy Short well caught at point by Chris Green for a duck.

After a lengthy rain delay, the 19-year-old returned to have Josh Philippe caught at mid wicket for 61 when he checked a shot off his hips.

Salzmann also bowled Charlie Stobo for four when he bottom-edged a pull shot onto his own stumps, before he also had Hamish McKenzie caught in the deep for nine.

An Australia under-19s representative earlier this year, Salzmann's figures of 4-48 from nine overs come after he took 3-48 on debut for the Blues against South Australia last month.

NSW then took charge early in the chase, as MacDonald hit 81 at the top.

With two Sheffield Shield games under his belt, MacDonald cover-drove neatly in his first domestic one-day game and stamped his authority early with a punishing cut shot off Stobo.

The right-hander's only blemish came when a powerful Moises Henriques drive rebounded off the debutant's helmet at the non-strikers' end, and the NSW captain was caught at mid on.

The 25-year-old was required to pass a concussion test in order to continue playing, before being out lbw off Jason Behrendorff (2-30) with only 33 required for victory.

Blues wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes also helped set up the chase with 43 off 37, taking a liking to young spinner McKenzie.

Youngster Oliver Davies then helped keep the chase together with an unbeaten 30 while wickets fell around him, after taking a smart boundary catch earlier in the game.

Winless in the Sheffield Shield for 15 games, NSW are now showing much different form in the one-day competition and go second on the ladder behind WA.

Marsh Cup 2023-24 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Total points PTS
1 NSW Men NSW	7	5	2	0	0	0.33	0	2	22
2 Western Australia Men WA	7	5	2	0	0	0.543	0	1	21
3 Victoria Men VIC	7	5	2	0	0	0.232	0	1	21
4 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	7	3	4	0	0	-0.201	0	1	13
5 Queensland Bulls QLD	7	1	5	0	1	-0.735	0	1	7
6 South Australia Men SA	7	1	5	0	1	-0.327	1	0	5

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

PTS: Total points