The Western Warriors have won their first domestic title in over a decade after easily accounting for NSW by 64 runs in the final of the Matador Cup at the SCG on Sunday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat the Warriors posted a competitive total of 6-255, including a solid 96 from number three Michael Klinger who was named man of the match.
However an impressive 83 from Shane Watson wasn’t enough for the Blues, as they lost their last seven wickets for only 39 runs, and were bowled out for 191 in the 45th over.
Warrior’s Captain Adam Vogues admitted after the game Watson’s innings had given him cause for concern.
“Watto (Watson) played beautifully and nearly stole the game away from us.
“[But] we always felt that we were one wicket away, and if we could break that partnership we would probably gain the ascendancy again.”
Although disappointed with the loss, Watson was happy with his own progress after a long lay-off with an ankle injury.
“I felt more comfortable out there and felt like the things I’ve been working on are coming together well,” he said after the match.
“After coming off no cricket for a while it’s nice to be able to get through today with a sandy outfield as well, it was always going to be a good test of where I was at. I’ll probably start to step up my bowling this week coming up to get ready for the Twenty20s.”
The Warriors batsmen got off to a solid start after both openers were able to see off the early overs while keeping the run rate moving along. Marcus Harris looking particularly comfortable racing to 33 off 22 balls before wafting at a loosener from Sandhu but only managing to find Watson at slip.
Klinger joined Harris in an 83 run partnership which took the Warriors to 2-125 at the end of the 26th over. Another solid partnership of 79 between Vogues and Klingers put the Warrior’s score past 200, before Vogues took a swipe at a straightening ball from Sean Abbott and was bowled for 40.
WA lost another four wickets hitting out in the final overs including Klinger, who just missed out on a century, caught at long off trying to smash Sandhu out of the ground. The Warriors put on 44 in the last five overs, leaving NSW a competitive target of 257 at 5.14 per over.
The Blues innings started disastrously. Maddinson the first to go trapped in front by Behrendorff for 4 in the first over, before Nevill was bowled by Vogues for 1 soon after.
The wicket of Nevill was an unexpected bonus for the Warriors, as he fell to Vogues first delivery in an over started by Joel Paris. Paris pulled up sore after the fourth delivery of the over and was forced to leave the field for treatment, forcing Vogues to finish the over.
Paris’s exit put extra pressure on the Warriors attack, and Watson and Patterson took advantage, combining in a stand of 115 off 146 balls before Patterson became Behrendorff’s second victim, bowled for 44 with the blues score on 125.
Ben Rohrer joined Watson, and the pair put on another 27 runs before Watson played at a ball outside off stump from Agar but only managed to feather it through to the keeper. Watson’s innings of 83 came off 100 balls and included six boundaries and three sixes.
The dismissal of Watson triggered a NSW collapse in which they lost their last seven wickets for only 39 runs. The only other Blues batsmen to put up any resistance were Rohrer (23), and Sandhu (16).
Best for the Warriors bowlers were Behrendorff, who finished with the impressive figures of 5-27 off 8.1 overs, while Nathan Rimmington took 2-41 off nine overs.
Although the Blues were soundly beaten in the final, it was a fine effort to even make it that far in the tournament given the calibre of players unavailable.
Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Dave Warner, Steve Smith, Stephen O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc are all in the UAE and would be automatic inclusions in the Blue’s side.
But congratulations to the Warriors, who deserved to win their first domestic competition in over a decade after being the most consistent side throughout the tournament, losing only the one game to Queensland, and that by only one run.
Craig White from Victoria was named man of the series.
HIGHLIGHTS
SCORECARD
Umpires: Fry, SD (AUS), Ward, JD (AUS)
Third Umpire: Wilson, P (AUS)
Match Refree: Stratford, RW (AUS)
Alcohol. Think Again Warriors: Craig Simmons, Marcus Harris, Michael Klinger, Adam Voges (c), Sam Whiteman (wk), Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Rimmington, Joel Paris, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Beer (12th)
NSW Blues: Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Shane Watson, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Ryan Carters, Sean Abbott, Patrick Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu, Josh Hazlewood, Doug Bollinger, Chris Green (12th)
GALLERY
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