The low-scoring run chases have been making headlines of late. Usman Khawaja's Queensland were down and out after losing nine wickets for 146 in the run chase of 218 against New South Wales. The Jack Edwards getting rid of the lower-middle order and tailenders, Kane Richardson's arrival to the crease, Queensland were expected to get bowled out soon and lose by a big margin but he was in no mood to surrender.
Queensland still needed 72 runs. The only positive they had on their side was ample time to chase it down. Gurinder Sandhu had started off well. He needed someone to stick with him. Richardson played seven dot balls and then got off the mark with a boundary off Chris Tremain. In the next over, Sandhu hit a couple of boundaries against Jack Nisbet. Richardson took on Tremain again and hit her for two more boundaries. In the next over, he smashed Nisbet for a maximum over long-on.
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Edwards was brought back into the attack to provide the breakthrough but he got hit for one boundary each. The New South Wales skipper gave Edwards another over and he got a similar treatment from the two gutsy batters. In the 38th over, Richardson decided that he did not want to drag it any longer and hit left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis for a maximum to finish the game in style at North Sydney, Oval on October 9.
Queensland registered a famous one-wicket victory. Richardson remained unbeaten for 36 off 34 balls including five fours and two sixes. This is his highest List A score. Sandhu on the other end contributed with 46 runs from 45 balls featuring six fours. The unbeaten 73-run partnership is the highest of 10th wicket in the history of Australia’s Marsh One-Day Cup.
Earlier, Khawaja had won the toss and opted to field first. Apart from Daniel Hughes (59) and Henriques (82), no New South Wales batter could stay in the middle for long as they were bowled out for 217 from 44.1 overs. In reply, before the batting collapse, Seam Heazlett was the top-scorer with a 46-ball 58 laced with five fours and two sixes.
This was Queensland's first win of the season. They are placed third on the points table with seven points, slightly ahead of New South Wales.
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