Blues lose despite Haddin hundred

Tasmania 5 for 325 (Marsh 106*, Birt 79, Bailey 65) beat New South Wales 275 (Haddin 138*, Wegman 4-45) by 50 runs
Scorecard

Brad Haddin's highest one-day score was not enough for New South Wales to steal a win after Daniel Marsh's 106 set up Tasmania's 50-run victory. Marsh had plenty of batting support but Haddin's 138 not out was a solo effort as he tried to rein in a ballooning required run-rate after the top order struggled in chasing 326.

Haddin played some fiercely powerful straight drives in his 116-ball innings and cleared the ropes twice but Nathan Wegman's 4 for 45 and a tight opening spell from Brett Geeves (2 for 27) made the task too difficult. Wegman, the fast bowler who was making his debut aged 30, removed Grant Lambert for 38 and Simon Katich (0) in consecutive balls to have the Blues at 4 for 72.

None of Haddin's team-mates seemed to warm up in the freezing Hobart conditions - the temperature fell as low as nine degrees - and the bowlers also had trouble restricting Tasmania. Marsh justified his decision to bat by scoring his first limited-overs century since 2004-05 and he made Peter Forrest pay for dropping him at square leg on 3.

Marsh had good support from Travis Birt, who opened with 79, and George Bailey, who was typically innovative in striking 65 from 47 balls to help the Tigers reach 5 for 325. Nathan Hauritz finished with 1 for 35 from his ten overs, remarkable figures given that all the Blues fast bowlers went for at least six an over.

Last year the Tigers were the team to beat in the Pura Cup but struggled in the one-day competition; this season they have shot to the top of the FR Cup table with three wins and three bonus points. The Blues are yet to win a match with two losses and a no-result.