Records tumble as Western Australia defeat South Australia to claim back-to-back titles
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Records tumble as Western Australia defeat South Australia to claim back-to-back titles
Western Australia have claimed their 16th Marsh One-Day Cup title with a 181-run victory over South Australia in the Final at the WACA Ground.
After being asked to bat first, WA's Josh Inglis blasted the highest ever score in a Marsh Cup Final, scoring 138 off 110 balls, while sharing in a 227-run partnership with Cameron Bancroft (90) - also the highest in a One-Day Cup Final.
The end of the partnership did little to stem the flow of runs, with Mitch Marsh (56 off 30) joining Inglis in the record books with a 27-ball half-century - the fastest in a Marsh Cup Final.
WA's total of 7-387 was the highest total ever recorded in a final, eclipsing the previous record of 6-325 set by South Australia in 1986-87. It was also the State’s equal highest One-Day Domestic score, having scored 387 against Queensland in 2018.
In response, South Australia started brightly, racing to 0-84 in the 13th over but the fall of debutant Kelvin Smith (44 off 34) and Henry Hunt (50 off 55) sparked a collapse from which the visitors couldn't recover.
Ashton Agar took 5-64 - his best figures in a One Day game for Western Australia - to help dismiss the Redbacks for 206 and secure WA their fourth title in the last six seasons.
Player of the Final Western Australia's Josh Inglis said: “I thought they bowled really well at the start of the innings. They gave us nothing, no freebies to hit. There was a bit of nibble out there and was a bit two-paced so me and 'Bangs' (Cameron Bancroft) just tried to take it really deep, as we know the strength of batting that we have later on in the innings."
Western Australia's Ashton Agar said: “I'm very proud of our group, our whole organisation. I think it speaks volumes of us and what we've been able to create here over a long period of time. I've been really lucky to see this group of players come up for 10 years and we are reaping the rewards now for a lot of hard work."
South Australia captain Jake Lehmann said: "Its a great effort to be here and we can proud getting to this point in the competition and we've still got some work to do. We will be back stronger and better next year.
WA are creating this white-ball powerhouse at the moment and its something that the whole of Australia wants to build, the team they have, the culture they have... is outstanding."
.jpg "Scorpions win historic Super Over against WA")
Scorpions win historic Super Over against WA
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.jpg "South Australia v Tasmania Day Two")
