Match Details
Commentary
In pursuit of 275, Western Australia started with a dauntless approach. The left-right combination of Josh Philippe and D'Arcy Short worked splendidly as they orchestrated 43 of the powerplay without losing any wickets. While Philippe played with a strike rate of nearly 100, D’Arcy played the second fiddle and kept rotating the strike. The Victorian bowlers kept on ticking crummy lengths and both the openers kept toiling them. The surface too deteriorated in the second innings and offered no swing or movement for bowlers.
The sturdy opening partnership between the duo settled Western Australia for 134/0 after halfway mark and they were cruising towards a victory. Soon after, Philippe scored a magnificent century; his second hundred in List A cricket. Will Sutherland broke the 166-run opening and got the first breakthrough for Victoria as Philippe edges one straight to the keeper. Nonetheless, his 100 (96), including 10 fours and 3 maximums laid the foundation for forthcoming batters to finish the job.
Although they seemed disoriented after the wicket of Philippe, the composed innings from D’Arcy Short 90(113), including 10 fours and 1 maximum, kept them in the hunt. Jonathan Merlo grabbed two wickets in quick succession and finished his figures on 2/47. Similarly, Will Sutherland also attained a couple of wickets and finished his stint on 2/54. Todd Murphy also claimed a scalp but he was way too expensive. In the end, it was Hilton Cartwright’s 26(22) that assured Western Australia a comprehensive victory over Victoria.
Earlier in the day, after winning the flip and electing to bat first, Victoria posted 274/9 on the board. Victoria was off to a sedate start as they only managed to put on 43 in the powerplay by losing three top-order wickets. Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris spearheaded the powerplay for Western Australia. The left-arm duo hit the deck hard and troubled Victoria’s batters with a conventional swing. Will Pucovski 5(12) was the first one to return as he edges one straight the slip cordon. Soon after, Paris pushed Victoria further on the backfoot as he attained two scalps in the same over.
Peter Handscomb and Matthew Short, the next batters in, deserted the sinking ship of Victoria with a much-needed partnership of 52. Handscomb played with soft hands and soaked up the pressure while Short played the aggressor. Just when the partnership was turning things in favor of Victoria, Andrew Tye got rid of Short 43(38), including 4 fours and 1 maximum.
Victoria was 114/5 at the halfway mark before Handscomb and Jake Fraser-McGurk took things onto their hands. The right-handed duo stitched a partnership of 94 runs and equalized the position. Fraser-McGurk scored 36 (42) before Tye yet again breaks the partnership. However, Handscomb played a captain’s knock and bagged the most runs for his team. His 93 (110), including 9 fours and 1 maximum, helped Victoria to post a competitive total.