Marsh-inspired WA crowned Marsh Cup champions

Almost 19 years after he first turned out for his beloved home state as a teenage prodigy, Shaun Marsh has produced perhaps the crowning performance of his domestic career, guiding Western Australia to their second Marsh One-Day Cup title in three years via a gripping four-wicket win over Queensland at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. 

The triumph is Western Australia's 14th in one-day domestic tournaments – the most of any state – though it was far from a fait accompli for much of the day, despite the Bulls slipping to 5-56 en route to 205; a total that appeared under par.

In fact, had it not been for the steadying presence of Marsh throughout the WA chase, whose 101no was the clear difference between the sides, the ledger might easily have swung in favour of the hosts, with wickets falling regularly throughout an absorbing afternoon.

After his captain Ashton Turner won the toss, the outstanding Jhye Richardson (3-35) was on song from the opening salvos, trapping dangerous opener Max Bryant lbw for two in his second over. 
Richardson found willing support in fellow quick Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-47), who had the returning Sam Heazlett chopping on for one to leave the Bulls 2-8 in the fourth over.

Usman Khawaja (26) and Matthew Renshaw (19) briefly threatened to put together a meaningful counter-punch, however the two left-handers both edged to Marsh at second slip to also become victims of the impressive duo of Coulter-Nile and Richardson respectively. 

And when Jack Wildermuth fell for a duck, Richardson had three and the hosts were 5-56 after 14 overs.

Peirson (79) and Bryce Street (29) began something of a repair job through the middle overs, adding 46 for the sixth wicket, then Michael Neser (8), Mark Steketee (18) and Matthew Kuhnemann all hung tough with the 'keeper-batsmen, whose measured hand took his team past 200 and offered the Queensland pace attack something to work with.

And when the Warriors lost openers Cameron Bancroft and D'Arcy Short in the first three overs of their pursuit, it was suddenly game on.

Enter Marsh. Coming to the crease at 1-14 with Queensland pace pair Neser and Steketee finding their groove with the new ball on the green-tinged pitch, Marsh rode out the ensuing storm with the experience that comes with spending half one's life in professional cricket. For a 40-ball spell, Western Australia accumulated just seven runs as the No.3, together with captain Turner, looked to survive until the inevitable bowling change.

Neser struck a second time when he had Turner trapped lbw in the seventh over, but an exquisite cover drive for four from Marsh in the paceman's next over was the first ominous glimpse of what was to come from the Western Australian.

At the other end, Billy Stanlake managed to maintain the pressure, conceding just six from an initial four-over spell and troubling new man Marcus Stoinis in the process, but the introductions of first Wildermuth and then Kuhnemann brought with them a dramatic change in the tone of the pursuit.

Wildermuth was on the wrong end of a couple more exquisite Marsh drives – one through cover, then one straight – before Stoinis (37) came to the party with a pulled six from Kuhnemann.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 97 at five runs per over but when Khawaja rolled the dice with the introduction of Renshaw's off-spin and succeeded in buying the wicket of Stoinis, the onus fell evermore on WA's senior statesman.

Marsh is no stranger to playing key hands in finals (in two of Perth Scorchers' three KFC Big Bash final wins, he has top-scored for his side with 73 and 63no) but this was as fine as any, as he showcased the blend of technique and temperament that for so long made him a go-to man for the National Selection Panel.

As allrounders Hilton Cartwright and Cameron Green came and went, Marsh pressed on. He flayed, stroked and finessed the ball largely through the off-side and particularly behind point, appearing unperturbed as the pressure of the situation rose with each wicket.

Ultimately it was Agar (29no) who proved to be the reliable partner Marsh was looking for, and the experienced pair worked their way patiently towards the finish line in spite of some admirable fight from the Queensland attack, notably Stanlake, who returned with an impressive if luckless second spell.

Marsh reached his century from 127 balls – his ninth in domestic one-day cricket – and moments later Agar smashed the winning runs over the wide midwicket fence, but despite that theatrical finish, it was without question the veteran batsman who had the decisive say in the appropriately-named Marsh One-Day Cup for 2019. 

Western Australia XI: D'Arcy Short, Cameron Bancroft (wk), Shaun Marsh, Ashton Turner (c), Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly

Queensland XI: Max Bryant, Usman Khawaja (c), Matthew Renshaw, Sam Heazlett, Bryce Street, James Peirson (wk), Jack Wildermuth, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann, Billy Stanlake