New South Wales 163 for 5 (Hughes 52) beat Western Australia 161 (Short 47, Edwards 3-14, Salzmann 3-18) by five wickets
New South Wales rocketed to top spot on the Marsh Cup table after posting a five-wicket bonus-point victory over defending champions Western Australia at the WACA Ground.
The result catapulted NSW from third to first, while WA’s second loss of the season relegated them to second spot. Both of WA’s losses have been to the Blues, setting up an intriguing battle if the two powerhouses make the final.
WA slumped to 89 for 7 after being sent in to bat before some late heroics from D’Arcy Short and AJ Tye lifted the home side to a defendable total. Edwards caused the early damage, before offspinner Chris Green and Will Salzmann joined in on the fun.
The wheels fell off early for WA as they slumped from 15 for 0 to 15 for 3 in the space of seven balls. Sam Fanning was the first to fall when he struck Ben Dwarshuis to point. Josh Philippe followed next over when Edwards found a leading edge.
Alarm bells were ringing for WA next ball when a rising Edwards delivery crashed into the left glove of Sam Whiteman and rebounded onto the stumps.
But just as WA looked set to push on towards 200, Salzmann dismissed both Short and Tye within the space of three balls in the 38th over to end the home side’s resistance.
NSW slipped to 19 for 2 in their run chase after Edwards and Blake Macdonald fell to the impressive Gannon, but a strong knock from Hughes ensured there would be no major collapse.
