THE 2023/24 Marsh One-Day Cup finalists have been decided, with New South Wales set to host Western Australia for the title on February 25. It means all 21 regular season fixtures are in the books and the Warriors’ hunt for a three-peat remains alive. We recap each side’s home-and-away runs.

>> RECAP: The dramatic One-Day Cup final day

NEW SOUTH WALES

H&A RECORD: 1ST | 5-2 | 0.33 NRR | 2 BP | 22 PTS
H&A STREAK: W | LL | WWWW
MOST RUNS: Daniel Hughes – 428 @ 61.14 | 83.43 SR | 119 HS | 100 x1, 50 x4
MOST WICKETS: Jack Edwards – 12 @ 12.46 | 3.76 economy | 4-38 BBI

THE STORY:

New South Wales will host this year’s final against Western Australia after compiling the best home-and-away record. Claiming two bonus points from their five wins, the Blues crucially got the job done against Victoria in a do-or-die final day clash to boot their rivals out of the running.

They had to turn around a negative record though, starting 1-2 with consecutive losses to the Vics (third) and Queensland (fifth). The Blues quickly bounced back and can hang their hat on already beating Western Australia twice this season, heading into the February 25 decider.

THE HIGH:

It has to be the final day victory over Victoria, which saw New South Wales secure its top two standing. Coming into the game in second spot, the Blues toppled the then ladder leaders by seven wickets in a rain-impacted chase, spearheaded by star opener Daniel Hughes‘ 119. Skipper Moises Henriques (73*) also played a key hand, after the Blues conceded 311 thanks to Tom Rogers‘ mammoth 196.

THE LOW:

With only two losses to choose from, going down to fifth-placed Queensland reads the worst for New South Wales. It came in just the Blues’ third outing and saw them fall to 1-2 on the season after the Bulls eclipsed a miserly 219 with only one wicket in hand. What’s worse, it came on home turf and former-Blue Gurinder Sandhu earned Player of the Match honours. 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

H&A RECORD: 2ND | 5-2 | 0.543 NRR | 1 BP | 21 PTS
H&A STREAK: WWW | L | W | L | W
MOST RUNS: Sam Whiteman – 416 @ 83.2 | 101.71 SR | 137* HS | 100 x1, 50 x2
MOST WICKETS: Andrew Tye – 13 @ 24.3 | 6.01 economy | 3-14 BBI

THE STORY:

The double defending champions will play off for a third-consecutive title on February 25 after finishing the regular season in second. Having started their campaign with three wins, the Warriors encountered a couple of New South Wales-sized speed humps en route to the top two, but showed their class with a final day away win over Tasmania to leapfrog Victoria into the decider.

THE HIGH:

While the final day victory over Tasmania was an ominous sign of WA’s permanent class, perhaps the side’s most ruthless performance came against the third-placed Victoria. Electing to bowl first, the Warriors rolled the Vics for 107 in just 21.1 overs, with their seam-bowling quartet all claiming multiple wickets. The chase lasted only 23.4 overs with four wickets down, securing a crucial bonus point.

THE LOW:

There is no real shame in losing to the ladder leader in any competition – albeit twice in one season – but Western Australia’s second loss to New South Wales was the more comprehensive. The Warriors were sent in and managed just 161 runs before the Blues chased it down with five wickets and 17.4 overs remaining. On home turf, that hurts, NSW has the wood over them now.

VICTORIA

H&A RECORD: 3RD | 5-2 | 0.232 NRR | 1 BP | 21 PTS
H&A STREAK: WW | L | WWW | L
MOST RUNS: Tom Rogers – 406 @ 58.00 | 101.75 SR | 196 HS | 100 x1, 50 x1
MOST WICKETS: Will Sutherland – 13 @ 22.69 | 4.95 economy | 3-39 BBI
& Sam Elliott – 13 @ 23.61 | 5.53 economy | 4-26 BBI

THE STORY:

Victoria is the hard luck story of season 2023/24, having finished with an equal win-loss record to the top two, and level on points with finalist Western Australia. The Vics missed out on the decider by net run rate (0.311) having gone into the final round of games sitting atop the table. A loss to New South Wales ensured they would fall to third for the second straight season.

THE HIGH:

A game two win over New South Wales may prove ample consolation for Victoria this season, particularly if the Blues go on to take out the title. Sam Harper hit a career-best 96 as the Vics posted 7-298 after electing to bat first. They then restricted NSW to 239 in a composed defence. Tom Rogers‘ 196 in the final game also warrants a huge mention as the state’s highest-ever List A score.

THE LOW:

Victoria’s two losses for the season came against the top two sides, and both would have stung for different reasons. Western Australia proved far too good back in October, snatching a bonus point win, while New South Wales kicked the Vics out of final contention on the last day of the season. Take your pick.

TASMANIA

H&A RECORD: 4TH | 3-4 | -0.201 NRR | 1 BP | 7 PTS
H&A STREAK: LL | WW | L | W | L
MOST RUNS: Caleb Jewell – 327 @ 46.71 | 107.21 SR | 137 HS | 100 x1, 50 x2
MOST WICKETS: Billy Stanlake – 9 @ 39.33 | 7.12 economy | 2-54 BBI
@ Paddy Dooley – 9 @ 40.88 | 5.82 economy | 2-42 BBI

THE STORY:

Tasmania had a glimmer of hope heading into the final game of the season, with top two qualification still possible. Ultimately, the Tigers couldn’t manage a bonus point win over Western Australia and ended up falling short overall by 52 runs. It meant they stayed put in fourth with a negative record, but clear of cellar dwellers Queensland and South Australia having beaten them both.

THE HIGH:

Having started the season 0-2, Tasmania got on the board in emphatic fashion with a 37-run away win over South Australia. The Tigers were sent in and posted a mammoth 9-435, spearheaded by Jordan Silk (116 off 85) and Caleb Jewell (90 off 52). They had to hold off a record ton from Jake Fraser-McGurk too, doing so to go home with four points.

THE LOW:

The Tigers beat both teams below them but suffered a couple of nasty six-wicket losses against teams above them – New South Wales and Victoria. The first saw them rolled for 198 by the Blues, before the Vics bowled them out for just 156 a few weeks later. Both losses granted their opponents crucial bonus points in the grand scheme of things.

QUEENSLAND

H&A RECORD: 5TH | 1-5 (1 NR) | -0.735 NRR | 1 BP | 7 PTS
H&A STREAK: L | NR | W | LLLL
MOST RUNS: Ben McDermott – 316 @ 52.66 | 98.75 SR | 143 HS | 100 x1, 50 x2 
MOST WICKETS: Gurinder Sandhu – 9 @ 25.66 | 4.52 economy | 2-20 BBI

THE STORY:

It was a relatively lacklustre season from Queensland, which lost its last four games but narrowly avoided being consigned to bottom spot. The Bulls ended the season on a low by going down to the formerly winless South Australia, but picked up a highly respectable victory over ladder leader New South Wales in their third outing. A washout against the Redbacks accounts for Queensland’s no-result.  

THE HIGH:

Beating New South Wales has proven no mean feat this season, but Queensland did it back in October. The win put the Bulls back on an even record before their four-game losing run. On the road, Queensland elected to bowl first and rolled the Blues for 217, before Gurinder Sandhu (46*) helped get his side over the line in the 38th over from the perilous position of 9-146.

THE LOW:

There’s a bonus point defeat to Tasmania which doesn’t look pretty, but Queensland’s loss to South Australia on the final day is arguably more disappointing. In Marnus Labuschagne’s senior captaincy debut, the Bulls fell for 218 and lost by five wickets with 35 balls to spare, handing the Redbacks their first and only win of the season.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

H&A RECORD: 6TH | 1-5 (1 NR) | -0.327 NRR | 5 PTS
H&A STREAK: L | NR | LLLL | W
MOST RUNS: Nathan McSweeney – 307 @ 51.16 | 82.52 SR | 62 HS | 50 x4
MOST WICKETS: Jordan Buckingham – 9 @ 13.88 | 4.23 economy | 6-41 BBI
& Henry Thornton – 9 @ 38.55 | 6.30 economy | 2-20 BBI

THE STORY:

South Australia was the cellar dweller of the 2023/24 One-Day Cup, having only picked up its opening win in the final game of the season. The Redbacks had one no-result against Queensland but otherwise managed three unsuccessful chases to start the season, and two unsuccessful defences before the breakthrough victory.

THE HIGH:

It could only be the Redbacks’ most recent effort – their sole win of the season. At 0-5, South Australia hosted the fifth-ranked Queensland and put on a terrific performance in the field before hunting down 218 with five wickets and 35 runs in hand. Jordan Buckingham claimed 6-41 and keeper Alex Carey gloved eight catches in what was a positive end to the season.

THE LOW:

South Australia conceded monster totals against Western Australia (7-371) and Tasmania (9-435) to start the season, but managed its lowest total against Victoria this month – 9-231. The Redbacks were sent in and fell to 7-132, with Harry Nielsen (61) and Harry Conway (43*) pushing the score past 200. It wasn’t enough, and despite a late wobble as Victoria chased the bonus point, SA went down by three wickets with 35 balls remaining.