New South Wales win a thriller at Bankstown

The Blues recorded their second successive victory with a nail biting three wicket win over South Australia at Bankstown Oval.

Chasing 246 for victory, Simon Katich (37) and Phil Jaques (42) got the home team to a flyer. The pair scored freely to add 80 for the first wicket and an easy NSW victory seemed inevitable, but wickets at crucial stages of the game resulted in the home team winning with only a ball to spare.

Earlier Katich won the toss and chose to field. South Australia’s innings started disastrously when Mathew Elliot was adjudged leg before to Lee for a fourth ball duck. Greg Blewett (31) and Graham Manou (52) steadied the innings before McGrath (1 for 30 off 10 overs) struck when he had Blewett caught behind. A poor decision by the umpire as replays confirmed the ball had clearly missed the bat.

The visitors were in further trouble at 3 for 66 after Stuart Clark had Mark Higgs(10) slashing at a wide delivery only to be caught by wicket-keeper Haddin. A 54 run stand between Manou and Lehman steadied the ship for the visitors, but when Manou was caught at deep off MacGill, the game started to slip away from them.

An experienced Lehman took control and with good support from Callum Ferguson (31) added a solid 82 for the fifth wicket. Lehman who was later adjudged the man-of-the-match smashed 75 off 83 deliveries. The South Australian captain after a subdued start signalled his intentions as he took full toll of Nathan Bracken dismissing two consecutive full tosses to the mid-wicket boundary.

Clark (2 for 43 off 10 overs) and Lee (2 for 61 off 9 overs) ended their fight back dismissing Ferguson and Lehman in quick succession but a late charge by Jason Gillespie (14 not out) and Mark Cleary (21 not out) ensured a respectable 245 in the stipulated 50 overs.

The run chase went to plan for the Blues. After adding 80 for the first wicket, NSW lost both its openers in quick succession, and when Haddin (13) was dismissed by Lehman, the game was in the balance as the home team required a further 123 in 24 overs with 7 wickets in hand. To make matters worse, Corey Richards retired hurt with a groin strain, but Michael Clarke kept the momentum going scoring 55 off 70 deliveries.

The other batsmen in Thornely (26), and the Super Sub O’Brien (19) chipped in with useful contributions but South Australia never gave in as they continued to pick wickets at regular intervals.

It was left to Brett Lee (13) and Nathan Bracken (17 not out) to get the home team closer to the target as the pair came together with a further 23 required from the last four overs. Gillespie (1 for 39 off 10 overs) bowled brilliantly to dismiss Lee in the penultimate over but Bracken and Richards (returning with a runner) denied the visitors a fairy tale finish to take NSW home with a ball to spare.

Full scorecard available here.

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