A Nic Maddinson century and a Mitchell Starc five-wicket haul helped NSW remain on top of the Matador Cup after thrashing Tasmania at Hurstville Oval.
The picturesque suburban ground and home of St George in the Sydney grade competition hosted its third and final match of the national one-day competition yesterday.
In front of a small but enthusiastic crowd, a number of international players featured for both teams, with Sutherland’s Steve Smith and Shane Watson lining up for NSW alongside St George all-rounder Moises Henriques playing on his grade home ground.
NSW and Australia captain Smith won the toss and sent Tasmania in.
That looked a good decision as former Test wicketkeeper Tim Paine was caught at point by Henriques after driving loosely in the second over off a Gurinder Sandhu delivery.
That brought Dom Michael to the crease, and the powerful left-hander went about taking it to Starc and Sandhu.
Michael and Ben Dunk put on 67 for the second wicket before Test spinner Nathan Lyon provided the breakthrough, bowling Dunk for 23.
Dunk (54), James Faulkner (51) and George Bailey (48) were among the runs for Tasmania but were unable to maintain their strong start, as the side was bowled out for 217 in the 47th over.
Starc was the best with the ball for the Blues, taking 5-39 from his 8.3 overs, while Lyon (1-47), Sandhu (2-30) and Sean Abbott (1-38) also chipped in with wickets.
In reply, NSW were cruising at 0-50 after 13 overs when rain stopped play.
Openers Maddinson and Ed Cowan had started strongly with play able to resume almost an hour later with Maddinson quickly notching his 50 chasing a revised target of 205 from 45 overs.
The pair brought up their century partnership before Cowan and Smith were stumped in consecutive balls by Paine off Xavier Doherty.
Watson survived the hat-trick ball before settling into a busy partnership with Maddinson.
Maddinson hammered 15 fours and four sixes in his run-a-ball knock – the last six winning the game with 25 balls to spare – in a knock that ensured NSW remained undefeated in the Matador Cup.
Maddinson ended up 118 not out, while Watson was unbeaten on 25 as NSW won by eight wickets.