‘Nightmare’: New South Wales toppled for its lowest score in one-day cup history

The New South Wales Blues have been utterly embarrassed in the Marsh Cup, recording its lowest score in one-day cup history.

New South Wales has been utterly embarrassed in the Marsh Cup, recording its lowest score in List A cricket as Western Australia secured a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in Perth.

A green WACA deck greeted the captains on Saturday morning, and Blues skipper Kurtis Patterson elected to bat first after winning the toss — a decision that quickly backfired.

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West Australian pacemen Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson, who recently returned from injury, put together a swing bowling masterclass during the Powerplay, taking six wickets in quick succession to demolish the Blues top-order.

Daniel Hughes, Matthew Gilkes and Jason Sangha each registered ducks as the tourists collapsed to 6/20 in the ninth over.

The white Kookaburra was hooping around corners at the WACA, with variable bounce also frustrating the hapless batters.

“It’s a nightmare start for the visitors,” commentator Brenton Speed said on Fox Cricket.

New South Wales all-rounders Sean Abbott and Daniel Sams somewhat revived the innings, combining for a 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket to help avoid the lowest domestic one-day cup score in history.

But West Australian seamers Andrew Tye and Matthew Kelly cleaned up the tail to roll the Blues for 76 within 22 overs, bettering the state’s previous lowest score of 92 against Queensland at the Gabba in 1973.

Kurtis Patterson of New South Wales is bowled. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Lowest team totals for New South Wales in domestic one-day cricket

76 vs Western Australia in 2022, WACA

92 vs Queensland in 1973, Gabba

112 vs South Australia in 2008, SCG

116 vs Western Australia in 1995, SCG

120 vs Victoria in 2002, MCG

It was the equal seventh-lowest total in Australian men’s one-day domestic history and also the third-lowest score Western Australia has conceded in 50-over cricket.

ABC reporter Sam Tomlin tweeted: “While I’m no expert, batting first on this against Richardson/Behrendorff/Kelly may not have been the wisest call.”

Yikes..

— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) October 1, 2022

Sams top-scored for the Blues with 26, while Abbott and Test spinner Nathan Lyon were the only other batters to reach double figures.

Player of the Match Richardson finished with career-best figures of 4/24 from eight overs, while Behrendorff took 3/17 from his seven overs.

“To be able to get back out there on the WACA in a bit of sunshine, take some wickets and do a job for the team is really exciting,” Richardson said after the victory.

“They’re building blocks for what is hopefully a bit summer.

“The wicket and the conditions were probably in our favour – a good toss to lose I reckon.”

Western Australia chased the 77-run target with 198 deliveries to spare, making it the third-largest victory in terms of balls remaining in one-day cup history.

Young gun Josh Philippe finished 37 not out off 46 balls, with Blues seamer Liam Hatcher claiming the lone wicket in the run chase by removing opening D’Arcy Short for 18 in the 13th over.

Jhye Richardson of Western Australia celebrates the wicket of Jason Sangha. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Largest victory in Australian domestic one-day cup by balls remaining

233 – Victoria vs CA XI, October 2015 at Hurstville Oval

209 – Western Australia vs TAS, October 2014 at the Gabba

198 – Western Australia vs NSW, October 2022 at the WACA

195 – Tasmania vs SA, March 2021 at Junction Oval

Originally published as ‘Nightmare’: New South Wales toppled for its lowest score in one-day cup history