South Australia has stolen victory from the jaws of defeat in their one-day season opener against Western Australia, clinching a thrilling two-run win over the reigning champions in Sydney.
Chasing a modest 167-run target at Silverwater’s Cricket Central on Tuesday afternoon, Western Australia was seemingly cruising towards victory at 3-133 in the 26th over with Ashton Turner (53 from 54 balls) at the crease. However, the powerhouse side lost 7-31 in frantic scenes as quick Nathan McAndrew and spinner Ben Manenti ripped through the lower order.
With Western Australia needing a further three runs for victory, or two to tie, South Australian wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen whipped off the bails for a classy stumping to seal the unforgettable win.
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McAndrew, later named player of the match, finished with career-best figures of 5-40 from ten overs, including the dismissals of opener Cameron Bancroft and all-rounder Ashton Agar, while Manenti claimed 2-21.
“It’s hard to put into words to be honest, it’s hard to believe we defended 160-odd,” McAndrew said after the match.
“Unbelievable game, amazing that we got over the finish there.
“I don’t know whether we were the favourites for that game at any point. I’m just so proud of the attitude and the fight that we showed.”
Earlier, Albany product Bryce Jackson decimated South Australia’s top order to topple the West Australian record for best bowling performance in a one-day match.
The right-armed quick, playing just his second List A match, claimed 6-31 from nine overs as South Australia was rolled for 166 in 37.5 overs.
Jackson snared his first breakthrough in the seventh over, finding Henry Hunt’s outside edge with an outswinger to break a 31-run opening partnership. The moustached seamer then toppled opener Mackenzie Harvey and captain Nathan McSweeney in his following over as South Australia lost 4-6 in 27 deliveries.
Returning for his second spell, Jackson inflicted further damage by dismissing Daniel Drew and McAndrew in consecutive deliveries before speedster Lance Morris cleaned up the tail.
‘There were a lot of emotions,” Jackson said of his six-wicket haul after the match.
“It’s just been an unreal journey for me. I almost teared up out there when I got that six-fa.”
The previous best bowling figures by a West Australian was held by teammate AJ Tye, who claimed 6-46 against Queensland in 2018.
“(Tye) told me that out there,” Jackson laughed.
“He said, ‘Welcome to the six-fa club.’”
Best one-day bowling figures for Western Australia
6-31 – Bryce Jackson vs SA, 2024
6-46 – AJ Tye vs QLD, 2018
5-15 – David Boyd vs VIC, 1983
5-16 – Jo Angel vs VIC, 2002
5-26 – Nathan Coulter-Nile vs VIC, 2014
Jackson made his List A debut in February, taking 3-76 during Western Australia’s 52-run victory over Tasmania in Hobart. He also represented the Perth Scorchers during August’s Top End series in Darwin, collecting 3-36 in a win over the Adelaide Strikers.
Western Australia, who suffered an agonising eight-run loss to New South Wales on Sunday, is still searching for its maiden victory of the season.
“We talked about it on Sunday, winning those key moments,” Jackson continued.
“We were good enough to get ourselves (into a winning position), it’s just being able to win those little moments to tip us over the edge.
“It just makes us even hungrier to get that win on the board.”
South Australia will next face New South Wales at Cricket Central on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 9.30am AEST.
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