Western Australia has won cricket’s One-Day Marsh Cup final, which was highlighted by a spectacular outfield catch by Hilton Cartwright.
Batting first, WA posted a defendable total of 225 off its 50 overs thanks to solid knocks by Cameron Bancroft (39) and bowler Jhye Richardson (44), who surprisingly topscored for the Warriors.
Western Australian tailenders Matt Kelly and Jason Behrendorff combined for an unbeaten 52-run partnership for the 10th wicket, which proved crucial for the Warriors.
In reply, NSW got off to a solid start but lost wickets at regular intervals as they eventually fell 19 runs short of victory.
Moises Henriques struck 43 off 75 balls but his dismissal proved to be the turning point in the match.
Part-time spinner Darcy Short bowled a regulation delivery that Henriques smacked down the ground towards the boundary at long on.
But that’s where Cartwright stepped in, leaping to his left and taking a sensational mid-air catch with his body parallel to the ground.
“Look at that by Hilton Cartwright,” ex-Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.
“Under pressure, he’s gone horizontal. What a catch.”
“You’ll go a long way to see something as good as that. That was unbelievable athleticism from one of the best fielders we’ve seen in the country. Well done Hilton Cartwright, he’s got WA right back in this game.”
Former Australian captain Allan Border added: “That is as good as you want to see in the outfield. Tearing away to his left, full dive, hits the deck and hangs onto it. That’s just brilliant.
Cricket fans were stunned by Cartwright’s spectacular feat of athleticism.
Catch of the summer?!
Hilton goes horizontal! #MarshCup pic.twitter.com/uLQcYsXPnn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 11, 2022
ABC Sport’s Akash Fotedar tweeted: “That’s one of the best outfield catches you will see from Cartwright! What a blinder!”
Cricket reporter Andrew McGlashan said: “Hilton Cartwright has pulled off a stunner!”
CODE’s Daniel Cherny added: “Hilton Cartwright has just taken the best catch I’ve ever seen live.”
Cartwright’s catch turned the game in WA’s favour and the Warriors closed out the victory in the 47th over.
Remarkably, no player registered a half century while the best of the bowlers was WA’s AJ Tye, who finished with figures of 4/30 off his eight overs.
The victory sealed WA’s 15th One-Day trophy, the most by any state in the domestic competition.
