Blues cruise to fourth-straight win

The NSW Blues remain undefeated in this year’s Matador BBQs One-Day Cup after a scintillating spell from Mitchell Starc and a mature knock by Nic Maddinson proved too much for the Tasmanian Tigers at Hurstville Oval.

Starc continued his stunning run of form in the tournament to reduce Tasmania to just 217 with 5-39, before Maddinson produced his second century of the series to guide the star-studded Blues to an eight-wicket win in a rain-affected rain chase.

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Maddinson overcame a strong Tasmanian bowling attack and two frustrating rain delays to remain unbeaten on 118 when the Blues reeled in the revised target of 193 with 25 balls to spare.

It was a knock that further highlighted his recent evolution as a more rounded batsman, but also featured the power-hitting that has been a feature of his game since his domestic debut in 2010.

WATCH: Maddinson the match-winner

Spinner Xavier Doherty slightly derailed the Blues’ pursuit with the wickets of Ed Cowan and Steve Smith in successive balls with both batsmen advancing down the pitch. It was Smith’s second duck in as many matches.

"The way the one-day format has changed in the past 12 months, you have to look to take wickets throughout the whole innings," Tasmanian allrounder James Faulkner said after play.

"I thought our fielding was a big improvement from playing the CA XI, but all in all we weren't up to the mark. 

"We couldn't get early wickets and there wasn't enough pressure sustained for the innings, hence why Maddo got off to a great start and capitalised."

Starc had earlier struggled to find his rhythm in an initial three-over spell that leaked 24 runs, but returned later in the innings to rip through the Tigers line-up and put his side in the box seat to remain undefeated in their fourth match of the three-week tournament.

The Blues spearhead claimed 4-7 in his final spell of 2.3 overs and earlier picked up the key wicket of Dom Michael with a classical yorker that dismantled the stumps.

The left-arm quick now has 19 wickets from four matches at an average of 6.00 and is now just five wickets behind the domestic one-day season record of 24 held by Shane Harwood. He still has at least three matches up his sleeve assuming he isn’t rested or injured.

It was a case of what could have been for the Tigers after Michael (54), captain George Bailey (48) and Faulkner (51) all failed to go on with their impressive starts.

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The wicket of Michael broke an important partnership with Bailey and brought highly-rated young gun Jake Doran to the crease against his former state.

Doran made the move from NSW in the off-season and the Blues were determined to rattle the 18-year-old both verbally and with the ball.

He withstood the early barrage and looked set for a big day after lofting paceman Sean Abbott over the fence at wide long-on. However, Abbott got his revenge soon after by throwing down the stumps as Doran looked to steal a single when on 16.

Faulkner looked set to explode in the latter overs after bringing up his half century from 55 balls, but Starc soon put an end to that with an edge behind to Peter Nevill that started a run of four wickets in nine balls for the world’s best ODI quick.

Gurinder Sandhu collected two scalps of his own while conceding just 30 runs from his eight overs as Tasmania failed to accelerate their innings on the small southern Sydney ground.

The win moves NSW further clear at the top of the table on 21 points, while Tasmania remain in fourth position with one victory from three matches.