Henriques' all-round heroics help NSW crush Tasmania
Henriques takes 2 for 31 and makes 71 not out while Dwarshuis bags 4 for 39 as NSW move to the top of the One-Day Cup table after a seven-wicket bonus point win over Tasmania
AAP and ESPNCricinfo staff
05-Feb-2025
Moises Henriques took 2 for 31 and made 71 not out off 83 balls • Getty Images
New South Wales 209 for 3 (Henriques 71*, Bell 3-29) beat Tasmania 205 (Jewell 37, Dwarshuis 4-39, Henriques 2-31) by seven wickets
New South Wales secured an important One-Day Cup bonus point as Moises Henriques guided his side to a commanding seven-wicket win over Tasmania in Launceston.
Chasing 206 for victory, the visitors always looked in control on Wednesday as Henriques delivered an unbeaten 71 from 83 balls. They reached 209 for 3 in just 38.3 overs, locking in the additional point that put them on top of the table with two regular-season matches left to play.
Matthew Gilkes (46 off 63) and Oliver Davies (40 not out off 36) also delivered with the bat for the Blues. Davies produced a highlight when he smashed Aidan O'Connor over the UTAS Stadium roof.
Josh Philippe set the tone for the NSW run chase, belting six boundaries in his 30 off 22 deliveries. He looked in fine touch before attempting to leave a rising Gabe Bell delivery that cannoned off his elbow and back down onto the stumps. Bell took 3 for 29 from 10 overs while the rest of the attack went wicketless while copping a battering from the Blues batters.
Henriques' composed knock included five fours and two sixes, and came after he earlier removed both Tasmania openers and finished with bowling figures of 2 for 31 from eight overs to help NSW bowl out Tasmania for 205 after NSW sent the hosts in to bat.
Ben Dwarshuis also shone with the ball, claiming 4 for 39 from 8.1 overs including key middle-order wickets that slowed Tasmania's progress.
Caleb Jewell (37 off 42) and Jake Doran (34 off 62) were among the five batters who got starts for Tasmania, but none went on with the job.
NSW quick Liam Hatcher provided a comical moment in the field when he fumbled a regulation catch at deep square-leg, stuck out a right boot to keep the ball alive and kicked it back up into his hand.
The schoolyard hacky sack-style move was followed by a clumsy somersault after Hatcher had grasped the catch, which removed Raf MacMillan off Dwarshuis' bowling, and was greeted by laughter from teammates.
Both sides are back in One-Day Cup action on Thursday next week, with NSW taking on Queensland in Brisbane and Tasmania hosting Victoria in Hobart.