Unbeaten half centuries to Steve Smith and Peter Nevill have steered New South Wales to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Western Australia in the rain-shortened Ryobi Cup clash at the SCG.
Unbeaten half centuries to Steve Smith and Peter Nevill have steered New South Wales to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Western Australia in the rain-shortened Ryobi Cup clash at the SCG.
Chasing a revised total of 193 off 46 overs after rain forced players from the field after one ball of the Blues' innings, the hosts struggled to 5-103 before Smith (57 off 84) and Nevill (55 off 50) reached the target with 16 balls remaining.
Nevill hit a towering six off Ben Edmondson (0-53) over mid-wicket to reach his half-century and guide the Blues to their third victory of the competition.
Man-of-the-match Trent Copeland (5-44) was the hero with the ball for the hosts as the Warriors were bowled out for 199 off 48.1 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat in overcast conditions.
The Test quick had figures of 3-3 at one stage on the way to his first one-day five-wicket haul.
Wes Robinson was the shining light for the visitors, rescuing the visitors from total disaster with a gritty 87 off 130 balls before he was stumped by Nevill off Nathan Hauritz in the 46th over of the innings.
The left-handed opener's innings included five boundaries and two sixes and ensured the Blues had to fight for their victory after all looked lost when they were reeling at 4-14.
Nathan Rimmington (46 off 60) was the only other Warrior to show some fight, putting on 89 runs for the seventh wicket with Robinson before falling victim to Copeland.
The Blues suffered an early setback when Phil Jaques (two) edged a full delivery from Rimmington (1-40) to Travis Birt who took a sharp catch at first slip.
Tim Cruickshank (20) was next to fall, brilliantly caught at point by Jason Behrendorff to give debutant D'Arcy Short (2-6) his first Ryobi Cup wicket.
Behrendorff dived low and to his left after Cruickshank mistimed an attempted cut shot to a ball that bounced off a good length.
Simon Katich was given a life on two when Birt dropped a sharp chance at first slip after Behrendorff (0-37) found the edge.
But the veteran became Short's second victim soon after when he edged an attempted cut shot straight to Luke Ronchi behind the stumps to depart for 10.
Destructive opener Daniel Smith looked in ominous form before he holed out to Tom Beaton at mid off to give Michael Beer (2-48) his first scalp.
Earlier, Copeland removed Marcus Harris (zero), Birt (six) and Tom Beaton (zero) early before claiming Rimmington (46 off 60) and Behrendorff (seven) to finish with impressive figures of 5-44 off 12.1 overs.
Hauritz made a promising return from shoulder and calf injuries, snaring 2-43 off 13 overs.
The former Test spinner was unlucky not to finish with better figures after dropping Michael Beer off his own bowling, while Phil Jaques also grassed Wes Robinson in the outfield on 81.
