THE 2024/25 One-Day Cup is drawing to its conclusion, with South Australia set to host Victoria in Sunday’s final at Adelaide Oval. Before the decider gets underway, we recap the highs and lows of each state’s home-and-away campaigns.

>> STATS: 2024/25 One-Day Cup (H&A)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

H&A RECORD: 1st | 4-2, 1NR | 0.25 NRR | 21 points

MOST RUNS: Mackenzie Harvey – 311 runs @ 62.20 | 106.14 SR | 134* HS | 100 x2
TOP KNOCK: Nathan McSweeney – 137 (131) vs. Queensland @ Allan Border Field

MOST WICKETS: Lloyd Pope – 7 wickets @ 33.57 | 5.68 economy | 2-21 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Nathan McAndrew – 5-40 (10) vs. Western Australia @ Cricket Central

THE STORY:

South Australia’s domestic revival has seen it go from zero to hero in the One-Day Cup, claiming hosting rights for this season’s final after finishing last in 2023/24. The SACAs beat defending champion Western Australia on neutral territory to kick off the campaign, but faltered in a nine-wicket loss to Queensland. What followed was three wins on the trot to lock in a top two spot. SA’s final round defeat to Tasmania mattered little, as a home final was already in the bag thanks to other results.

THE HIGH:

While a pair of important wins against the three-time defending champions reads well, South Australia will arguably be most buoyed by its nine-wicket thumping of fellow finalist Victoria back in November. The SACAs chased down 287 within 38 overs to claim a bonus point, doing so with only one wicket down as Mackenzie Harvey (134) and Daniel Drew (108) hit unbeaten centuries at better than a run-a-ball.

THE LOW:

There’s not much you can do when Mitchell Owen is on song, which was the case in SA’s final day loss to Tasmania, so a nine-wicket loss to Queensland stands as the SACA’s low point. Coming all the way back in October, Nathan McSweeney‘s 137 (131) stood out among eight single-digit scores in a total of 218. Queensland chased it down with nine wickets and 105 balls to spare, marking a resounding bonus point loss.

VICTORIA

H&A RECORD: 2nd | 4-3 | -0.162 NRR | 18 points

MOST RUNS: Peter Handscomb – 256 runs @ 42.66 | 92.41 SR | 104 HS | 50 x1, 100 x1
TOP KNOCK: Campbell Kellaway – 177* (101) vs. New South Wales @ Cricket Central

MOST WICKETS: Peter Siddle – 14 wickets @ 19.92 | 5.58 economy | 5-49 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Sam Elliott – 7-12 (8) vs. Tasmania @ Junction Oval

THE STORY:

Victoria charged back from fourth to snatch second spot on the final day of the season, thanks to its eight-wicket defeat of New South Wales. The Vics endured a topsy-turvy campaign, winning their opening two games before dropping the next two, and going win-for-loss to round out the season. They sat second heading into the break and reclaimed it at the last gasp, dropping games to fellow finalist South Australia, third place New South Wales, and Tasmania.

THE HIGH:

It has to be Victoria’s fourth and most important win of the season, against New South Wales at Cricket Central. The fruitful road trip saw the finalists chase down 311 in a bonus point victory, doing so with eight wickets in hand and 74 balls remaining. Campbell Kellaway‘s maiden List A century was the highlight along with a vintage knock of 91 (52) from Peter Handscomb, and Harry Dixon‘s quickfire 57 (37) atop the order. Together, the trio combined for two 100-run partnerships to get the job done. A special mention goes to Sam Elliott‘s record-breaking spell of 7-12 against Tasmania in September.

THE LOW:

The Vics hit a speed bump in the middle of their campaign, losing two games on the trot after a promising start. The first was a 140-run thumping at the hands of New South Wales, who posted an ominous 336-run total after being sent in to bat at Junction Oval. Next was a resounding nine-wicket loss to South Australia which brought Victoria back to an even 2-2 ledger. The SACAs chased down 287 with one wicket down and 74 balls in hand, thanks to twin tons among the top three.

NEW SOUTH WALES

H&A RECORD: 3rd | 3-3, 1 NR | 0.099 NRR | 16 points

MOST RUNS: Matthew Gilkes – 302 runs @ 50.33 | 100.33 SR | 74 HS | 50 x2
TOP KNOCK: Josh Philippe – 116 (98) vs. Queensland @ Allan Border Field

MOST WICKETS: Jack Nisbet – 6 wickets @ 34.33 | 6.24 economy | 4-49 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Ben Dwarshuis – 4-39 (8.1) vs. Tasmania @ UTAS Stadium

THE STORY:

After making the final last season, New South Wales narrowly missed out having conceded second place to Victoria on the final day. The Blues won three of their first four games but faltered when it mattered, going down to Queensland and Victoria to ultimately relinquish another shot at the title. A previous win against finalist Victoria and one against reigning champion Western Australia were among the high points in a podium finish.

THE HIGH:

New South Wales’ most resounding win came to the tune of 140 runs against Victoria in game two, defending a solid 336-run total by bowling out their rivals in 34.2 overs. The Blues also returned to action with a bang after the break by claiming a bonus point against Tasmania in Launceston. After skittling the Tigers for 205, the Blues reached their target in 38.3 overs thanks to Moises Henriques‘ unbeaten 71 (83). He was Player of the Match after also claiming 2-31 with the ball.

THE LOW:

After thumping Victoria early in the campaign, New South Wales got a taste of its own medicine and was comprehensively beaten on the final day of the season. The Blues, playing on home turf, failed to recover from its loss to Queensland 10 days earlier, nor defend 310 in a bonus point defeat. It not only cost the Blues a second-straight final berth, but saw them drop games against all other top four teams this season.

QUEENSLAND

H&A RECORD: 4th | 3-3, 1NR | 0.244 NRR | 15 points

MOST RUNS: Matthew Renshaw – 305 runs @ 50.83 | 114.23 SR | 122 HS | 50 x2, 100 x1
TOP KNOCK: Matthew Renshaw – 122 (99) vs. Tasmania @ Bellerive Oval

MOST WICKETS: Mitch Swepson – 10 wickets @ 25.0 | 5.0 economy | 4-40 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Liam Guthrie – 4-15 (8) vs. South Australia @ Allan Border Field

THE STORY:

Queensland went close to snatching a spot in this season’s final, ending up in fourth place after falling short on the last day. The Bulls’ closing loss to bottom-placed Western Australia closed the door on their season, having won three games on the trot to surge back into top two contention. They beat ladder leader South Australia along the way, as well as the third-placed New South Wales.

THE HIGH:

The Bulls’ nine-wicket win over South Australia stands head and shoulders above the rest in hindsight. They were one of just two teams to beat the SACAs in 2024/25, doing so at home having restricted them to 218 in the face of a fighting Nathan McSweeney ton. Liam Guthrie claimed 4-15 before the Bulls chased down the target in 32.3 overs with one wicket down. Jimmy Peirson‘s unbeaten century helped finish the job alongside 72 (52) from leading run scorer Matthew Renshaw.

THE LOW:

While the Bulls may have beaten two sides ahead of them – South Australia and New South Wales – their loss to last-placed Western Australia ultimately cost them a place in the final. Needing only to win at home to secure second spot, Queensland was rolled for 131 having fallen to 8-86 as WA’s brigade of fast bowlers ran riot. In response, the visitors chased down the total in 26 overs at four down as D’Arcy Short brought up the winning runs with a six down the ground. A promising season ended in disappointment.

TASMANIA

H&A RECORD: 5th | 3-3, 1 NR | 0.134 NRR | 15 points

MOST RUNS: Mitchell Owen – 239 runs @ 47.80 | 206.03 SR | 149 HS | 100 x1
TOP KNOCK: Mitchell Owen – 149 (69) vs. South Australia @ Adelaide Oval

MOST WICKETS: Beau Webster – 16 wickets @ 9.56 | 4.50 economy | 6-17 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Beau Webster – 6-17 (6) vs. Western Australia @ WACA Ground

THE STORY:

Tasmania’s season stalled at the start having fallen to a 1-3 record with one no result against Queensland. The Tigers won their last two games against both finalists – South Australia and Victoria – proving they could match it with the best when on song. That fact proved a bittersweet one, though Tassie was handed a tough draw having played against Victoria twice and missing out on a result against fourth-place Queensland. With some genuine star factor, it was a case of what could have been.

THE HIGH:

Call it recency bias, but Tasmania’s highs came in its final two games – defeating the competition’s finalists within 10 days of each other. First was a five-wicket defeat of Victoria in Hobart, where the Tigers chased down 270 in 40.3 overs with five wickets in hand. What came next was unprecedented, as Mitchell Owen bashed a 48-ball ton to land on 149 (69) against South Australia. His score helped the Tigers chase 330 in a high-scoring thriller, getting the job done with two wickets and six balls to spare.

THE LOW:

While a seven-wicket loss to New South Wales out of the break was less than desirable, arguably Tasmania’s low point came in its first outing against Victoria. The Tigers were rolled for 126 in just 30.1 overs at Junction Oval as Sam Elliott (7-12) ran through their batting order. A valiant response fell short as the Vics got home in 26.5 overs to claim the bonus point in a relative canter.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

H&A RECORD: 6th | 2-5 | -0.481 NRR | 9 points

MOST RUNS: Ashton Turner – 198 runs @ 33.0 | 97.53 SR | 53 HS | 50 x1
TOP KNOCK: Sam Whiteman – 74 (67) vs. Queensland @ WACA Ground

MOST WICKETS: Bryce Jackson – 12 wickets @ 15.58 | 4.79 economy | 6-31 BBI
BEST BOWLING: Bryce Jackson – 6-31 (9) vs. South Australia @ Cricket Central

THE STORY:

Western Australia’s domestic dominance looks to be fading after the three-time defending champion was resigned to a last-place One-Day Cup finish in 2024/25. The WACAs broke through for their first win at the third time of asking, but could not build on it with three consecutive defeats on either side of the break. A thumping final day win over Queensland saw the regenerating side play spoiler, ending the Bulls’ hopes of a final berth.

THE HIGH:

With only two wins over Queensland to choose from and limited standout individual performances, Western Australia’s second was its best. The WACAs’ away trip was a fruitful one, beating the Bulls by six wickets after skittling them for 131 in 29.2 overs. They reached the target in just 26 overs with four wickets down to claim a consolation bonus point and end the campaign on a high. Leading wicket taker Bryce Jackson claimed Player of the Match honours for his 4-39 (10) spell.

THE LOW:

Two losses by eight runs or less marked an 0-2 start to Western Australia’s season, immediately putting the defending champions behind the eight-ball. The second of those, against South Australia, saw the WACAs fail to chase 166. Their faltering batting stocks were even worse exposed in a seven-wicket defeat to Tasmania, where they were bowled out for just 53 in 20.1 overs. The innings featured six ducks and a collapse of 8-1. Remarkable stuff, no less at home.