Tasmania Triumphs Over Western Australia in Stunning Collapse: Webster’s 6-for Secures Victory
Tasmania easily won by seven wickets as reigning champions Western Australia suffered one of the most devastating collapses in One-Day Cup history, being bowled out for just 53 runs at Waca.
Leading the assault and causing a historic collapse in WA’s batting order was Beau Webster, who recorded career-best figures of 6 for 17.
Match Scorecard
Tasmania 55 for 3 beat Western Australia 53 (Webster 6-17, Stanlake 3-12) by 7 wickets.
Match Analysis
In an unprecedented batting collapse that left their One-Day Cup defense in ruins, Western Australia lost an astounding 8 for 1, with their lone run coming from a wide.
Beau Webster (6-17 from six overs) spearheaded a raging Tasmanian assault that had them bowled out for 53 in 20.1 overs on Friday at the WACA Ground.
It was the second-lowest total in One-Day Cup history, only slightly higher than the 51 South Australia scored in 2003 against Tasmania in Hobart.
In just 8.3 overs, Tasmania managed to chase down the pathetic victory goal, winning by seven wickets and earning a crucial bonus point.
WA’s attempt to win the title for the fourth time in a row is currently in jeopardy. In order to guarantee a top-two position and a spot in the March 1 final, WA must defeat Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland in their final three games and hope for other favorable outcomes.
Before experiencing one of the biggest batting collapses in professional cricket history, WA was stumbling at 52 for 2 in the sixteenth over. Webster and Billy Stanlake ran riot, causing WA to lose eight wickets and score just one run in the sundries column in the span of 28 legal deliveries.
With no runs scored by the guys batting at Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, WA went from 52 for 2 to all out for 53.
The defunct When Webster ensnared Cameron Bancroft, he was the first to fall in the collapse. Josh Inglis was bowled by a Stanlake pearler one delivery later, and Ashton Turner was also dismissed LBW by Webster three balls later.
As WA’s innings came to an abrupt end, Cooper Connolly, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, and Joel Paris all posted ducks.
The three-time defending champions’ scoreboard looked awful as opener D’Arcy Short top scored with 22. WA failed to reach their lowest total to date, which was 59 against Victoria at the MCG in 1969.
With a career-best performance that included taking out Short early on and igniting the collapse, Webster was Tasmania’s hero. One of the highlights of the innings was Stanlake’s elimination of Inglis, demonstrating his immense effectiveness.
After three overs, Tasmania quickly reached 27 without loss in response to WA’s humiliating total, thanks to a string of strong heaves from opener Mitchell Owen.
Caleb Jewell, Jordan Silk, and Owen all fell quickly as Tasmania lost 3 for 1, but Matthew Wade led them home.
Following a defeat and a draw in their opening two games of the season, the outcome was Tasmania’s first victory.
