WA too strong for Tassie in one-day match
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Western Australia easily overcame Tasmania’s 62 all out, the equal-third lowest total in domestic one-day cricket history, to win by seven wickets at the Gabba.
The lowest score of 51 all out, recorded by South Australia against Tasmania in 2003, seemed certain to be beaten when the Tigers were shell-shocked at 6-12 following a devastating opening spell from man-of-the-match paceman Joel Paris (4-13).
The Warriors also had a slow start, reduced to 3-14 with Sam Rainbird (2-26) striking twice.
But Michael Klinger (28 not out) and Sam Whiteman (24 not out) comfortably secured victory with 34.5 overs to spare.
Paris, playing just his third domestic one-dayer, bettered the three wickets he collected against South Australia on Wednesday, with Ben Dunk (5), Ed Cowan (0) and Evan Gulbis (4) all caught behind square and Jordan Silk (0) trapped leg before.
The swing from Behrendorff (2-3) at the other end might not have been as prodigious, but his line in a five-over spell was impeccable and resulted in the wickets of Tim Paine (0) and Michael Hill (0).
After the initial damage, Australian ODI and Twenty20 bowler Nathan Counter-Nile (3-19) completed the demolition job, taking the wicket of the only Tiger to reach double figures, Jon Wells (22).
Paris, 21, has come into the season on the back of a superb Champions League Twenty20 campaign where he was the Perth Scorchers’ leading wicket-taker with seven scalps, at an average of 10.74.
“I’ve had a really good chance to learn from Jason (Behrendorff), a fellow left-armer and from Coults who has played for Australia,” Paris said.
“To have him at mid on or mid off talking me through when I bowl is fantastic. We’ve got a really good squad of bowlers working together.
“I think the conditions were probably in our favour winning the toss and bowling. But obviously bowling them out for 62 was a fantastic effort.
“It made it a lot easier Jason (Behrendorff) bowling the way he was at the other end, it meant I could attack a bit more.
“We knew at one stage they’d probably come a bit harder. We just had to stick to our guns. I thought Coults bowled magnificently.”
The convincing victory sees the Warriors secure two bonus points and sit second, just a point behind NSW, however the Warriors have a game in hand.
Tasmania will have the chance to salvage some pride when they face the Warriors again on Monday in Sydney.