Defending champions Western Australia suffer rarest one-day batting collapse

Western Australia, the most successful and last three-time champions of the One-Day Cup, suffered a shocking defeat against Tasmania after suffering a rarest batting collapse.

Western Australia started the One-Day Cup 2024/25 season with two close defeats against New South Wales (lost by eight runs) and South Australia (lost by two runs) before beating Queensland by four wickets in the high-scoring chase. 

Perth’s WACA hosted the Western Australia vs Tasmania match, where Tasmania captain Jordan Silk chose to field first. 

After the opener Aaron Hardie was dismissed for only seven runs, another opener D’Arcy Short lost his wicket after scoring 22 runs. Cameron Bancroft was the next batter out when the real drama started.

Eight wickets for only one run

Western Australia lost their last eight wickets only for one run as they were bundled out for only 53 runs in 20.1 overs. All the last seven batters failed to open their accounts, including the last unbeaten batter. It was the second-lowest completed total in the Australian domestic One-Day Cup history. The record lowest total in this list is 51 all out by South Australia against Tasmania at Hobart in January 2003. 

Tasmania bowler Beau Webster had the bowling figures of 6-2-17-6. Also, Billy Stanlake (3/12) and Tom Rogers (1/12) picked up wickets in that innings. Webster recorded the sixth-best bowling figures in tournament history and second-best by a Tasmania bowler.

Best bowling figures in Australian domestic One-Day Cup history

Fastest chase in tournament history despite a short panic

Although openers Caleb Jewell (3), Mitchell Owen (29), and the no.4 batter and skipper Jordan Silk (1) lost wickets quickly, as Tasmania’s 33/0 quickly turned to 34/3, they still comfortably reached the target in 8.3 overs without losing any other wickets. In that chasing, Matthew Wade scored a crucial 21 not out off 13 balls with three fours and one six.

Among the Western Australia bowlers, Joel Paris (2/10) and Lance Morris (1/20) took wickets.

While Tasmania won the match by seven wickets with 249 balls to spare, it was the fastest successful chasing and largest winning margin (by balls remaining in the second innings) in the tournament history. The previous record was successfully chasing the target with 233 balls to spare by Victoria against Cricket Australia XI at Sydney in 2015.