JLT ONE-DAY CUP: TASSIE TUMBLES TO WEST’S
WESTERN Australia sent an ominous warning ahead of the upcoming one-day cup finals by easing to a five-wicket victory over Tasmania to complete a clean sweep over their rivals.
Powerhouse half-centuries from Marcus Stoinis, D’Arcy Short and Josh Philippe helped WA cruise to victory with 9.33 overs remaining.
The reigning cham-ampions reached 5-2922 in response to Tasmania’s 8-290 at Hurstville Oval for a fifth win from as many starts.
Opener Philippe crashed a whirlwind 50 from just 33 balls to build a perfect platform in pursuit of a challenging victory target.
Short followed up his Australian record 257 at the same venue on Friday with 63 from 61 balls.
Short hit three sixes in his knock and looked threatening before being bowled by Gurinder Sandhu.
But it was Stoinis who shone the brightest with an unbeaten 93 from just 49 balls including seven sixes.
Stoinis was dropped on 47 by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and he made the most of the let-off sharing an unbroken 124-run stand for the sixth-wicket with Jhye Richardson (29 not out).
Ben McDermott, this season’s leading run-scorer, led the way in the Tasmanian innings scoring a confident 76 off 77 balls at the top of the order.
Captain George Bailey found form with a seasonbest 79 off 88 balls as the Tigers posted a competitive tally.