Inglis ton, Agar five-for energy Western Australia to Marsh Cup title

Western Australia 387 for 7 (Inglis 138, Bancroft 90, Marsh 56, W Agar 2-56) beat South Australia 206 (Hunt 50, Smith 44, Agar 5-64) by 181 runs

Promoted to open after in-form D’Arcy Short was controversially dropped, Inglis smashed 138 off 110 balls to gasoline Western Australia’s large 387 for 7 after being despatched in to bat.

It was Western Australia’s joint-highest rating in 50-over cricket as they gained a stranglehold on a record-extending sixteenth title within the competitors.

South Australia lasted simply 31.4 overs in a forlorn chase as WA efficiently defended their title in a season the place they received all eight matches.

“It was nice to get up to the top, the fields up…you don’t get a chance to score hundreds if you’re batting five or six,” mentioned Inglis, who revealed he knew about his elevation to open throughout a workforce assembly on Tuesday morning. “We’ll see if I get an opportunity over there [India] but it’s nice I’ve got the form to go back on.”

Mitchell Marsh, coming in at No.4 and enjoying as a specialist batter, continued his spectacular return after a three-month layoff from ankle surgical procedure with a 30-ball 56 within the quickest half-century in a Marsh Cup remaining. After his latest ton within the Sheffield Shield match towards Tasmania, Marsh hit 5 sixes in a showcase of his trademark energy to flatten SA’s flagging assault.

Hunting their first 50-over title since 2012, a nervy South Australia had been out of their depth towards a stacked Western Australia workforce fielding 4 gamers who will likely be a part of the upcoming three-match ODI sequence in India.

It was a disappointing finish for South Australia, who’ve improved significantly within the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield this season after a interval within the wilderness.

“Obviously bitterly disappointed,” SA coach Jason Gillespie mentioned. “We know we are a lot better than what we showed out there. “We have lots to remove and hopefully we get higher.”

But South Australia’s fielding deteriorated from there with Inglis dropped by Henry Hunt on the boundary off spinner Ben Manenti in a pivotal moment. Having made just 26 off 42 balls to that point, Inglis suddenly clicked into gear and made South Australia pay with a belligerent assault as he needed just another 45 deliveries to notch his century.

Inglis mixed inventive strokes, including well executed reversed scoops, with sweet textbook drives to demoralise South Australia whose sloppy fielding effort also included Henry Thornton dropping Bancroft when he was on 51.

As a thunderstorm, rare in Perth this time of year, threatened to intervene, South Australia openers Hunt and Kelvin Smith provided the fireworks to notch a 50-run partnership within six overs. Having been a late replacement for Jake Carder, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Smith sparkled in his 50-over debut for South Australia as he pounced on unusually listless bowling from the quicks.

But he fell on 44 after tamely spooning to short midwicket as South Australia were shackled by quick Andrew Tye and spinner Agar, who claimed Hunt for 50 to trigger a slew of wickets.

It was solely a matter of time earlier than Western Australia celebrated one other triumph because the powerhouse state stays heading in the right direction for a treble of home titles for the second straight season.