Watson fails as NSW slump

Western Australia 7 for 266 (Voges 77, Whiteman 74, Sandhu 3-64) beat New South Wales 155 (Hogan 3-29) by 111 runs
Scorecard

Shane Watson's return to state combat was unhappy in the extreme as a low score set New South Wales on the path to a 111-run hiding at the hands of a gradually rejuvenating Western Australia in the domestic limited overs match at the SCG.

Chasing 267 for victory after their captain Steve O'Keefe had sent the Warriors in to bat, the Blues were never in realistic touch after slipping to 3 for 15, Watson's wicket the second to fall after he opened the batting with Scott Henry.

WA's bowlers impressed with their speed, accuracy and movement, Nathan Coulter-Nile stinging Watson with a blow on the upper arm before he claimed Henry's wicket via an edge into the slips cordon. Watson was defeated by a Joel Paris in-ducker that lopped back to the bowler off bat and pad, and three balls later David Dawson fenced at Michael Hogan and was athletically pouched by Shaun Marsh.

The rest of the innings petered out in the face of some consistently beguiling left-arm spin from the debutant Ashton Agar, who completed a worthwhile first week in WA colours having come in for the injured Michael Beer. Agar's control, flight and variations in pace allowed few batsmen to be comfortable, and he thoroughly deserved his two wickets to go with three in the earlier Sheffield Shield match.

O'Keefe's choice at the toss had been made following several days of heavy rain around Sydney had left both captains unsure of the state of the pitch, but it turned out to be quite even tempered, only offering the occasional instance of uneven bounce.

Following Marsh's early exit to a direct hit run out conjured by Steve Smith, the visitors enjoyed a sturdy start thanks to Liam Davis and the wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Whiteman, who showed an unfussy technique and a range of mannerisms reminiscent of his coach Justin Langer.

When Davis was pinned lbw by another debutant, the tall seam bowler Gurinder Sandhu, Whiteman and his captain Adam Voges pushed on in an attractive stand that took advantage of some mediocre bowling by O'Keefe and Josh Hazlewood, who has been returning gradually from a stress hot spot in his foot.

Voges went on to the sort of innings he has played for Australia's ODI team on occasions past, while Michael Hussey added a late innings spike to the run rate that ensured a total the Blues would never threaten.