NSW crash spectacularly to defeat

Western Australia completed an eight-wicket win after a dramatic collapse from New South Wales, during which they lost their last six wickets for three runs on the final day at the WACA Ground. The result took them to the top of the Sheffield Shield, level on 26 points with South Australia but ahead on net run rate.

NSW had begun the fourth day on 4 for 102 in their second innings, still behind Western Australia by 16 runs. The overnight batsmen Ryan Carters and Peter Nevill added 21 more to take the lead, and then the implosion came out of nowhere.

The chief wrecker was the part-time offspinner Marcus North, who began the collapse by dismissing Nevill for 23. Michael Hogan then got Carters and Sean Abbott in the 48th over, and NSW had lost three wickets without an addition to the score.

North picked up two more wickets, with the last ball of the 51st over and the first of the 53rd, to finish with 3 for 9 in six overs. NSW had lost five wickets for one run. Jason Behrendorff ended the innings by having Trent Copeland caught behind, to finish with 4 for 35 and nine wickets in the match. NSW had been shot out for 126.

Western Australia had to score 9 to win, but they lost two wickets to offspinner Manjot Singh in the first over, before Adam Voges hit the winning boundary in the third.