Unlikely opener steers Tasmania to 'tricky' one-day win

Quick turned surprise opener Will Prestwidge has notched a maiden half-century to steer Tasmania to a rain-affected One-Day Cup win over NSW.

The Tigers handed NSW their first loss of the domestic 50-over season, triumphing by 57 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Sydney's Cricket Central on Tuesday.

Prestwidge – not known for his exploits with the bat – was thrown to the top of the order with Mitch Owen away on Australia A duties and blasted 71 off 56 balls with six fours and five sixes, either side of two rain delays that lasted almost three hours.

"I don't know if it suits me," the 24-year-old laughed when asked about his unfamiliar role as opener.

"It was great to take the opportunity to get the team off to a really nice start.

"It would have been nice to go on with it but that's OK ... it was good fun."

Returning to the field at 0-53 after rain halted play nine overs in, Tasmania swung freely with 21 overs left to bat and finished all out for 203.

NSW never looked likely to chase down Tasmania's revised total of 216 to win off 30 overs and were ultimately dismissed for 158 off 26.

Ollie Davies, fresh off his double-century in NSW's Sheffield Shield draw with the Tigers, lost his wicket for 13 at the end of the second over and fellow opener Kurtis Patterson (5) fell two balls later.

Wickets tumbled consistently throughout NSW's chase as the middle order of Riley Kingsell (24), Ryan Hicks (29) and Will Salzmann (27) couldn't convert starts.

Tasmania's Caleb Jewell ran out Liam Hatcher (1) to end the match after the tailender called NSW top-scorer Jake Scott (32 not out) through for an ill-advised single.

Highly-rated off-spinner Raf MacMillan (3-29 off six overs) was the pick of Tasmania's bowlers.

Prestwidge, who took 1-18 off three overs, said the rain delays made for a "tricky" match.

"That's massive for us, going two (wins) from three (matches)," he added.

2026-27 One-Day Cup standings

Round 1

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 South Australia Men SA	3	2	0	0	0	1	0.77	0	0	0	11
2 Tasmanian Tigers Men TAS	3	2	1	0	0	0	2.303	0	0	0	10
3 NSW Men NSW	3	2	1	0	0	0	-0.023	0	0	0	8
4 Queensland Bulls QLD	3	1	2	0	0	0	0.017	0	0	0	4
5 Victoria Men VIC	3	1	2	0	0	0	-0.752	0	0	0	4
6 Western Australia Men WA	3	0	2	0	0	1	-2.088	0	0	0	2

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points