WA beat Vics to go top of one-day table
Western Australia have one foot in the domestic one-day cup final, although they made heavy weather of hauling in Victoria’s modest tally at Blacktown in Sydney on Sunday.
The West Australians won by six wickets with an over to spare to go to top spot on the competition table, with the victory largely built around a superb bowling performance earlier in the day from Nathan Coulter-Nile.•
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The paceman was the chief destroyer, bowling with pace and accuracy in claiming 5-26 – including four top-order batsman – off 9.2 overs as Victoria were bowled out for just 213.
WA were sluggish at times in reply and were teetering at 4-132, before Adam Voges and Ashton Turner steadied the ship with an unbroken partnership of 83 for the fifth wicket.
Voges scored a measured 83 not out, Turner chipped in with an unbeaten 29 and earlier, opener Marcus Harris made 69.
“These wickets are almost better for me, as it makes me concentrate every ball, as you have to really execute your skills,” said Coulter-Nile.
“I feel good and like I’m getting better every game, and hopefully I can keep getting better.
“There is good momentum within the team. We have a really good mix of players, and everyone is playing their role.”
Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis put on 130 for the second wicket for Victoria, only for their dismissals in quick succession to bring about a collapse, as the Vics lost their final nine wickets for just 77 runs.
Stoinis top-scored with 69 and Wade – in his return from a one-match suspension for breaching Cricket Australia’s disciplinary code – made a tidy 60.
The consistent Cameron White chipped in with 36 before being the last man out in the chase for late runs.
Second-placed Queensland will need to defeat Western Australia on Wednesday, as well as earn a bonus point, if they are to overhaul their rivals and jump into top spot.
The teams that finish in second and third – the latter position currently held by NSW – will meet in Friday’s preliminary final, with the decider at the SCG next Sunday.