It has been a good season for New South Wales. Making the final of both the Sheffield Shield and the one-day cup has been a great achievement, alongside the Sydney Sixers lifting their third BBL title.
Before the Shield final, the Blues focus on the one-day cup final against Western Australia at Bankstown Oval.
Let’s look at how both teams qualified for the decider.
New South Wales’ road to the final
NSW 9-318 (50 overs) beat Victoria 259 all out (46.1 overs) by 59 runs.
NSW 4-208 (29.1 overs) beat South Australia 205 all out (46.3 overs) by six wickets.
Match abandoned without a ball bowled versus Western Australia.
NSW 7-259 (48.5 overs) beat Tasmania 9-258 (50 overs) by three wickets.
NSW 2-204 (33.2 overs) beat Queensland 203 all out (46.5 overs) by eight wickets.
Western Australia road to the final
WA 5-369 (50 overs) beat South Australia 356 all out (49.2 overs) by 13 runs.
WA 143 all out (31.5 overs) lost to Queensland 9-264 (50 overs) by 93 runs (DLS method).
Match abandoned without a ball bowled versus NSW.
WA 317 all out (48.3 overs) beat Victoria 147 all out (30.1 overs) by 170 runs.
WA 307 all out (48.3 overs) beat Tasmania 148 all out (24.5 overs) by 159 runs.
Despite getting hammered by Queensland at the Gabba, double bonus-point wins against Victoria and Tasmania saw Western Australia overtake Queensland to take the second final spot. With a highly attacking batting line-up and a bowling attack led by Jason Behrendorff, it’s been a recipe for success so far. The biggest question will be their adaptability. The wicket at Bankstown Oval is expected to be on the slower side and with Shaun Marsh not available for the final for personal reasons, the West Australians could be undone by spin.
As for New South Wales, they’ve easily been the best side of the tournament. Winning three games comprehensively and fighting back against Tasmania at Blundstone Arena, no side has come close to competing with the Blues over the course of 100 overs. But with a host of NSW players currently in India due to the IPL, the young guns will be tasked to step up for the Blues at Bankstown Oval. With Jason and Tanveer Sangha named in the Blues’ squad for the final, there is a possibility of a three-man spin attack made up of the two leg spinners and Nathan Lyon.
Key battle: Western Australia’s batting versus New South Wales’ bowling
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Sean Abbott. That’s a combined 373 List A games of experience. Add in World Cup and BBL finals and you know this quartet have delivered in crunch games in front of packed crowds. If they stop D’Arcy Short, Josh Inglis, Sam Whiteman, Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green from causing havoc with the bat, then this game could end up a one-sided contest very quickly.
Both sides are stacked with quality white-ball players. Even without Shaun Marsh, Western Australia are a potent one-day outfit and are looking to go back to back. But New South Wales have been the benchmark of this season’s one-day cup. Despite many of NSW’s big names on IPL duty, the experience of Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood alone gives the Blues an advantage alongside an expected slow Bankstown wicket. Bring on what is expected to be a cracker of a final.
Predicted XIs
Western Australia: Josh Philippe, Sam Whiteman, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, David Moody, Lance Morris
New South Wales: Daniel Hughes, Matt Gilkes (wicketkeeper), Kurtis Patterson (captain), Nick Larkin, Oliver Davies, Jason Sangha, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Tanveer Sangha
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Almost totally to do with uncompetitive cricket pitches. They have made plenty of finals which have ended in draws.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
No Sheffield Shield for 22 years, unbelievable
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yep. Was frustrating to watch unfold. I expected the Blues attack to be difficult in patches to enable the build of a score and momentum - but I didn't expect them to strangle the WA batsmen the way they did.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I reckon they might.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sorry, the Bulls have something to say about that
badmanners
Roar Rookie
One down, one to go! (Maybe) :happy:
Rellum
Roar Guru
WA got smashed
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
An impressive knock from Jack Edwards while NSW's bowlers have shown their test match quality in shutting WA down.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
WA had a washout too.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
WA's season hasn't been too shabby. 3rd in the Shield, the final (and probable win) in the Marsh ODD and the Scorchers final in T20. ODD champs last season yet still some WA pundits are calling for Voges' head. WA has played most of the season with up to 9 first picked players unavailable (mostly on white ball international duty).
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Although WA and NSW also had a washout
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Starc had a good game vs Queensland took 3/46 off 10 at NSO. His white ball form is fine. But ye him and Hazlewood have a lot of responsibility on em tomorrow
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think WA wins it based on their bowling is better than NSW's batting. It will take Starc to find form or Hazelwood going on a tear for NSW to win unless several players have off days
Rellum
Roar Guru
They have had International players at times
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Two washouts cost Queensland dearly. They also missed a further bonus point against South Australia by one run. Never mind. Once this Mickey Mouse competition is over, the Shield final will take place & hopefully Queensland will be holding the winner’s trophy.
Alex
Guest
NSW batting looks weak. How have they been making scores thus far?