Western Australia are the kings of Australian domestic cricket once again, winning the one-day Marsh Cup for the third straight time and the first time since NSW between 2001-2003.
The Warriors have become the force of Australian cricket in recent seasons and a chasing a hat-trick of titles in both the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield in 2023/24.
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The first box has been ticked after the side claimed a five-wicket win over NSW with 100 balls still remaining.
Playing at NSW Cricket Central in front of a tiny crowd, Western Australia bowled NSW out for just 169 with Ollie Davies’ 53-ball 51 the only thing seemingly saving the hosts from complete embarrassment.
Joel Paris led the Warriors bowlers with 4/21 as they bowled the Blues out in just 42 overs.
But if you truly wanted to understand how dominant the Warriors were despite a somewhat flattering final scoreline of five wickets, you need look no further than the dismissal of Matthew Gilkes.
NSW were 6/159 with Gilkes and Will Saltzmann at the crease.
Saltzmann chipped a ball through mid-wicket for what looked like a relatively easy two when Nick Hobson threw the ball in.
A slight hesitation on the first saw Andrew Tye collect the ball and whip the bails off, before throwing at the other end. where he had a direct hit.
“If it’s not a run out at the bowler’s end, it’s out at the other end and NSW are seven down,” commentator Adam Peacock said.
Aussie cricket great Stuart Clark said that it was “definitely out” at the striker’s end but that there was confusion about who would have to walk back to the pavilion as it was close at the bowler’s end.
“AJ Tye, a bit of double play type stuff,” Clark said.
The replay saw Gilkes well out despite a dive and Saltzmann short of his ground by about the same distance.
“Double play,” the commentators laughed together.
In the end, it was Gilkes who had to walk for just nine, shaking his head as the last recognised batter gave his wicket away.
The Blues’ tail then slumped, losing the last four wickets for 10 runs, all out for 169.
It wasn’t easy for the Warriors in reply, falling to 3/30 after the early scalps of D’Arcy Short, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman.
At 4/79 in the chase when Josh Philippe was dismissed for 42, the Blues were still in the fight.
But Hilton Cartwright put the game beyond doubt with a player of the match winning 73 not out of 80 balls as the visitors cruised to victory.
Cartwright finished the match with a monster six off Tanveer Sangha.
The celebrations were fairly low-key with hardly any crowd at the ground.
The job is only half done for the Warriors however, with the Sheffield Shield trophy still up for grabs.
While Victoria won a hat-trick between 2014/15 and 2016/17, Western Australia would be the first team in the history of domestic cricket in Australia to claim a hat-trick in both competitions at the same time.
WA are currently third but with a match against the fifth-ranked Queensland still to come, while the two teams ahead of them — Tasmania and Victoria — will play each other starting March 1.
Western Australia will then face Victoria in the final round, in what could be a shootout for the final starting March 21.
