Ronchi century sets up one-run victory for Warriors

Western Australia 9 for 268 (Ronchi 104, Voges 68) beat New South Wales 8 for 267 (Jaques 83, Katich 82) by 1 run
Scorecard

Luke Ronchi continued his habit of bullying New South Wales with a composed 104 that set up a one-run win for Western Australia. Phil Jaques and Simon Katich tried valiantly to overhaul the Warriors' 268 but none of their top-order team-mates were any help.

While the scorecard indicated a nailbiting finish the margin shrunk with a final-ball six when the Blues needed eight. Matthew Nicholson belted 35 and Nathan Hauritz hit 38 in a late flurry but a spectacular save by Chris Rogers in the 48th over was crucial. Nicholson pulled Sean Ervine flat and hard to deep midwicket where it seemed destined for six when Rogers jumped, flung out his right hand and flicked the ball into play before falling over the rope.

Hauritz and Nicholson were the only Blues besides Jaques and Katich to reach double-figures. The top-order pair added 148 with Katich's 82 showing glimpses of why he used to open in ODIs and Jaques' 83 displaying why he might fill that same role in the future.

However, the batting star of the day was Ronchi. His power is well known and although he tried a more cautious approach this time, he still only required 87 balls to reach triple-figures. His highlight was four fours in a Doug Bollinger over - two conventional cover drives and two driven over mid off. Ronchi also troubled the Blues last summer when he finished with a 56-ball hundred, the fastest in Australian domestic one-day history.

Although plenty of his runs this time came along the ground - he later said he tried "using my head more" than in previous innings - he brought up his milestone with a flat pull over long on for his only six. Most of his support came from Adam Voges, the stand-in captain, who was unusually circumspect in compiling 68 from 71 balls.