All the New South Wales bowlers played their part as Western Australia fell apart for 149
New South Wales 8 for 251 (Edwards 108, Hughes 58, Behrendorff 3 for 46) beat Western Australia 149 (Abbott 4 for 23) by 102 runs
A century from Jack Edwards and a four-wicket haul from Sean Abbott carried New South Wales to the Marsh Cup title with a massive 102-run victory over Western Australia.
On a surface where it was difficult to force the pace, 20-year-old Edwards played the defining innings with his second List A hundred having been recalled with New South Wales missing David Warner, Steven Smith and Moises Henriques at the IPL.
He lifted the Blues from 3 for 50 in the 12th over, in a 118-run stand for the fourth wicket with Daniel Hughes, reaching his century from 117 balls.
The Western Australia innings then fell away against Abbott while the rest of New South Wales’ international-standard attack played their part, especially Josh Hazlewood whose first eight overs cost just 17 runs.
It was New South Wales’ 12th one-day title in the various forms the competition has taken and they will aim to secure both state competitions when they face Queensland for the Sheffield Shield from Thursday in Brisbane.
They had made a brisk start after batting first with Matthew Gilkes going at better than a run-a-ball before being found short by Sam Whiteman’s excellent return from the deep.
Kurtis Patterson, captaining in place of Pat Cummins, dragged on against Liam Guthrie to continue a lean season and when Jason Sangha was sharply held by Mitchell Marsh in his follow through the home side were tottering.
Hughes, who made a century in final group match, had been given an early life when he was dropped at slip by Marsh off Cameron Green, whose barren time with the ball continued, and alongside Edwards set about restoring the innings at a sedate pace.
The pair brought up their half-centuries in quick succession – Hughes from 92 balls and Edwards from 69 – but there was no major acceleration although Edwards did manage to clear cover with one of the shots of the day.
After Hughes had been stumped off D’Arcy Short, Ollie Davies accompanied Edwards in another useful stand but was unable to score at his usual high tempo and took two blows – one on the helmet and the other in the box.
Edwards went from 79 to his century in one and twos; on another day that approach may have come into question but the end result more than justified the means. After reaching his century he added his third six, a huge strike over the leg side, but late wickets meant the charge was muted.
New South Wales did not have to wait long for their first wicket when Mitchell Starc pinned Sam Whiteman lbw in a nine-ball opening over that cost 11. The next nine overs produced just 20 runs as Hazlewood’s first four-over spell cost just six and Abbott struck in his first when Josh Philippe swiped across the line.
Abbott was replaced after his opening over but then returned to have Mitchell Marsh caught at mid-off while Short could not get any momentum into his innings as he laboured 56 balls over 26 before being well caught by Abbott, back-tracking from mid-on to take a top edge off Nathan Lyon.
Green and Josh Inglis tried to rebuild the way New South Wales had managed but after nine overs Inglis flicked Abbott to deep square leg who removed Ashton Turner, caught at midwicket, in his next over.
With Green still there and a deep batting order full of internationals the chase remained just about within reach, but Ashton Agar was given out sweeping – much to his dismay as he lingered at the crease with replays suggesting it came off the arm – and then Green was run out to seal the contest.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo