WASHOUTS may have forced a points share in the last two fixtures, but even inclement weather couldn’t put a dampener on the opening week of One-Day Cup action for 2024/25. Although, defending champion Western Australia has had a start to forget, losing its first two games in a three-day stretch.

New South Wales exacted revenge on WA in the season-opener, which was a rematch of last season’s final. The Blues saluted to the tune of eight runs at Cricket Central after defending their 9-287. Keeper-batsman Josh Philippe starred with a man-of-the-match knock of 139 (119) against his former side.

The opener carried a heavy scoring load as NSW struggled to maintain significant partnerships through the top and middle order. Meanwhile, West Australian quick Jhye Richardson claimed 5-63 (10), including the scalps of Daniel Hughes (7) and Nic Maddinson (0) within three balls of each other.

In response, Cameron Bancroft spearheaded the reigning champions’ chase with 71 off 83 deliveries atop the order. Allrounder Ashton Agar (51 off 39) looked like getting the visitors home despite having been involved in a pair of late run-outs, while Andrew Tye was the last wicket to fall after 48.5 overs.

After going down in a tight one on Sunday, WA remained in Sydney for a clash with South Australia on Tuesday. Their fortunes hardly changed, however, as a newly rebranded SACA outfit stormed home to claim the unlikeliest of two-run victories to begin life under new coach, Ryan Harris.

Having elected to bowl, WA skittled their southern counterparts for just 166 in 37.5 overs. No South Australian batter managed to muster a half-century, while Bryce Jackson removed five of the top six en route to innings-best figures of 6-31 (9), putting his side in the box seat.

WA looked well on track to claim a straightforward win at 3-133, before an almighty fumble saw them lose 7-31 within 12 overs and fall short. While Wes Agar removed Sam Whiteman (48 off 77) to spark the collapse, man-of-the-match Nathan McAndrew was the chief destroyer with 5-40 (10).

Ben Manenti (2-21) also played an integral role in the unlikely victory for last season’s cellar dweller. The allrounder took the decisive final two wickets of the match, including that of top-scorer and captain Ashton Turner (53 off 54) to kill off WA’s hopes of arresting the momentum.

Middling the two aforementioned fixtures was Victoria’s four-wicket win over Tasmania at Junction Oval on Monday. The hosts steadied a middle order wobble to chase down the target of 126 in 26.5 overs, with opener Sam Harper (43 off 32) top-scoring.

Sam Elliott, the son of former Australian Test opener Matthew, starred with the ball, posting record One-Day Cup figures for his state of 7-12 (8). He claimed all seven poles consecutively throughout the innings, seeing the Tigers fall from 2-54 to 9-92 across the span of 12.1 overs.

His destructive haul sits only behind Shaun Tait‘s 8-43 from 2003 in the One-Day Cup history books. Although, the 24-year-old’s efforts were nearly in vain as Victoria fell to 6-72 in response. He fittingly finished unbeaten on 19 alongside skipper Will Sutherland (36) to steer the Vics home.

Unfortunately, the last two days of play were washed out. Tasmania’s clash with Queensland lasted just 16 overs before rain left the Bulls stranded on 5-128 at Junction Oval. That was more action than NSW and SA saw the following day, with the match abandoned without a ball bowled at Cricket Central.

The first week and block of fixtures will officially be completed tomorrow as Victoria and Queensland lock horns in Melbourne. Proceedings then resume on October 13, before an exciting triple-header on the 25th sees the action played simultaneously across three states.