Redbacks prevail after mad day of cricket
South Australian spinner Ben Manenti delivered two crucial wickets to hand the Redbacks a thrilling two-run win over Western Australia on a madcap day of cricket in Sydney.
Manenti struck twice in two overs to remove WA captain Ashton Turner for 53 and have second-gamer Bryce Jackson out stumped to seal a season-opening victory in the One-Day Cup.
Jackson had earlier claimed record figures of 6-31, surpassing Andrew Tye’s 6-46 against Queensland in 2018 to produce the best individual performance by a WA bowler in the 50-over format.
It came the day after fellow 24-year-old quick Sam Elliott claimed Victoria’s best ever one-day figures of 7-12 on a similarly green-tinged wicket in Melbourne.
His efforts with the ball had left the Warriors with only 167 to win, but the triple defending champions slumped to a second consecutive defeat after Nathan McAndrew (5-40) ripped through their middle order to trigger a collapse of 6-24.
With only six runs to win and two wickets in hand, Manenti had Turner out caught behind to a faint outside edge after a dramatic previous over when Jackson was adjudged to have made his ground amid a strong appeal for a run-out.
At 9-164 in his next over, Manenti beat the inside edge of Jackson, whose back foot appeared to lift off the ground before wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen whipped the bails off.
It was a disappointing end to a phenomenal return to the top level for the right-arm quick from Albany, who had stolen the show from nationally contracted quick Lance Morris (3-42) and experienced pair Andrew Tye and Matthew Kelly to put WA in the box seat.
Jackson, whose single One-Day Cup game in February had yielded 3-67 against Tasmania, earnt a recall to the WA side after Jhye Richardson was rested off a two-day break following his blistering return from injury with five wickets against NSW on Sunday.
The Warriors’ attack was also missing left-armers Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris, along with 19-year-old quick Mahli Beardman, who is a chance to make his ODI debut for Australia on Friday after being called into the UK tour squad as a train-on player.
Jackson found the outside edge of Henry Hunt with an outswinger at the end of his first over before he had Redbacks debutant Mackenzie Harvey out to an attempted hook shot and then trapped captain Nathan McSweeney lbw as he shouldered arms.
A brilliant catch by Cameron Bancroft at mid-wicket removed Daniel Drew for 49 to crush any SA resistance and hand Jackson his fifth wicket.
D’Arcy Short was caught short of his ground with a direct hit by Redbacks debutant Mackenzie Harvey in the first over of WA’s innings to depart for a rare diamond duck.
