North ton leads Western Australia to win

Western Australia 236 for 8 (North 104) beat South Australia 235 (James Smith 68) by two wickets
Scorecard

Marcus North's 104 off 99 balls led Western Australia right up to the line but it required No. 10 Ryan Duffield to get them over it in what was a nerve-jangling finish at the WACA. North had levelled the scores with three balls left to go in the match, but in going for the winning run was run out. Phil Adams was left with the job of finishing things, but was stumped next ball. Duffield, who has scored a grand total of five runs in List A cricket, walked out and managed to get the required run to give Western Australia the victory.

Both teams had lost one wicket too many in the first 20-over half of their split-innings. South Australia scored at a good rate, reaching 109 in the first twenty, but lost four wickets. Opener James Smith was steady at his end, but once he was out for 68 within five overs of South Australia's second innings, it meant there was not enough of a base for the lower order to build on. Cameron Borgas scored 47, but South Australia were not able to bat through the 45 overs, bowled out for 235 in 44.2.

Western Australia had a similar problem, finding themselves 95 for 4 at the end of their first innings, and needing 160 to win in the last 25 overs. Mitchell Marsh held up one end while North attacked from the other in a 71-run partnership. Once Marsh fell, wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi came in and hit a quick 31. His 64-run stand with North looked like it would see Western Australia through, but there was some late drama in the match, as Ronchi nicked one behind off Daniel Christian with 12 required off 11, setting up a nail-biter of a last over.