Western Australia 387 for 7 (Inglis 138, Bancroft 90, Marsh 56, W Agar 2-56) beat South Australia 206 (Hunt 50, Smith 44, Agar 5-64) by 181 runs
Promoted to open after in-form D’Arcy Quick was controversially dropped, Inglis smashed 138 off 110 balls to gas Western Australia’s large 387 for 7 after being despatched in to bat.
It was Western Australia’s joint-highest rating in 50-over cricket as they gained a stranglehold on a record-extending sixteenth title within the competitors.
South Australia lasted simply 31.4 overs in a forlorn chase as WA efficiently defended their title in a season the place they gained all eight matches.
“It was good to rise up to the highest, the fields up…you do not get an opportunity to attain tons of for those who’re batting 5 or 6,” mentioned Inglis, who revealed he knew about his elevation to open throughout a staff assembly on Tuesday morning. “We’ll see if I get a possibility over there [India] however it’s good I’ve bought the shape to return on.”
Mitchell Marsh, coming in at No.4 and enjoying as a specialist batter, continued his spectacular return after a three-month layoff from ankle surgical procedure with a 30-ball 56 within the quickest half-century in a Marsh Cup ultimate. After his current ton within the Sheffield Protect match in opposition to Tasmania, Marsh hit 5 sixes in a showcase of his trademark energy to flatten SA’s flagging assault.
Searching their first 50-over title since 2012, a nervy South Australia have been out of their depth in opposition to a stacked Western Australia staff fielding 4 gamers who shall be a part of the upcoming three-match ODI sequence in India.
It was a disappointing finish for South Australia, who’ve improved significantly within the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Protect this season after a interval within the wilderness.
“Clearly bitterly upset,” SA coach Jason Gillespie mentioned. “We all know we’re loads higher than what we confirmed on the market. “Now we have loads to remove and hopefully we get higher.”
However South Australia’s fielding deteriorated from there with Inglis dropped by Henry Hunt on the boundary off spinner Ben Manenti in a pivotal second. Having made simply 26 off 42 balls to that time, Inglis abruptly clicked into gear and made South Australia pay with a belligerent assault as he wanted simply one other 45 deliveries to notch his century.
Inglis combined ingenious strokes, together with properly executed reversed scoops, with candy textbook drives to demoralise South Australia whose sloppy fielding effort additionally included Henry Thornton dropping Bancroft when he was on 51.
As a thunderstorm, uncommon in Perth this time of yr, threatened to intervene, South Australia openers Hunt and Kelvin Smith supplied the fireworks to notch a 50-run partnership inside six overs. Having been a late substitute for Jake Carder, who injured his hamstring within the warm-up, Smith sparkled in his 50-over debut for South Australia as he pounced on unusually listless bowling from the quicks.
However he fell on 44 after tamely spooning to brief midwicket as South Australia have been shackled by fast Andrew Tye and spinner Agar, who claimed Hunt for 50 to set off a slew of wickets.
It was solely a matter of time earlier than Western Australia celebrated one other triumph because the powerhouse state stays on the right track for a treble of home titles for the second straight season.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth
