15 January 1999 Perth - Queensland have recorded a thrilling 5 run win over Western Australia in the Mercantile Mutual Cup Day/Night limited overs fixture at the WACA tonight.
Queensland captain Ian Healy won the toss and elected to bat first on a dark flat strip that was promising to be a batsman's paradise. The day was clear though mild, offering much to favour the seamers. The outfield was lush and dark green forcing the batsmen work for their runs
Queensland openers Hayden and Maher put on 103 for the first wicket Maher's wicket falling when he reached 41. Their partnership realised the first 50 in 72 balls and the second 50 in 63 balls. Hayden went on to score 82 runs including 11 fours from 114 balls. Also notable for the visiting team was Stuart Law's frenetic 47 from 49. In the 43rd over Geoff Foley walloped a six off Stewart down the ground almost into the Bouncy Castle at the Members end of the ground. 2 overs later Symonds repeated the dose this time off Harvey narrowly missing a small boy playing cricket with his mates not far away.
For Western Australia in the Queensland innings Brad Hogg became the destroyer with 2 wickets from his 3 overs for 16 runs and a runout. This was Hogg's 1st cap this season within the WA side. Adding spice to the game with excellent displays of fielding including the runout of Foley who was looking dangerous at 28 runs from 24 balls. The single wicket takers were Moody 1/35 from 8.5 overs, Stewart 1/51 from 9 overs and Harvey 1 /49 from 9 overs. A few over throws in the field and some poor returns to the wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell did not help the Western Australian cause. Campbell regularly substitutes for Adam Gilchrist who is currently away on International duty. Some sorry news for WA going into a Sheffield shield match tomorrow when Sean Cary limped from the field looking as if he had pulled a hamstring after bowling the 1st ball of an incomplete 5th over. He retired from the ground and took no further part in the game. WA captain Tom Moody bowled the remainder of the over.
After 50 overs Queensland had set WA a seemingly formidable target of 267 with the loss of only 6 wickets.
The WA coach Wayne Clarke surprised the opposition and public alike by altering his batting order have usual opener Ryan Campbell walking out into the ground with WA captain Tom Moody and not his usual opening partner Mike Hussey to get the WA innings under way. Ryan Campbell's luck continues to have deserted him for the moment. He fell for only 18 with the WA score on 43 when Martin Love took a gem of a catch one handed high over his head fielding at 1st slip. Campbell - the first of Prestwidges 5 wickets - looked disconsolate as he stalked from the field. Love treated the 5227 strong WA crowd to a rare display of fine slips fielding by the tall man in a fielding performance that was generally pretty poor from the Queensland side.
Langer and Moody put on the only 50 partnership of the WA innings coming from 61 balls. When the 62 run partnership fell WA was 2/105 - Langer was caught by Love for 17 from the bowling of Stuart Law. At this early stage (8.1 overs) WA were just ahead on comparative run-rate. When Tom Moody's wicket fell LBW Creevey for 59 in the next over; Mike Hussey joined new batsman Simon Katich. The WA run rate then slowed until Hussey's wicket fell for just 20 runs caught by Healy. Then 2 balls later Dighton went for a duck. Kasprowicz was recalled into the attack for the 40th over with immediate effect; breaking the 41 run 6th wicket partnership of Hogg and Katich. The 7th wicket of Harvey and Katich had put on 49 runs from 44 balls; then Harvey became Prestwidges 4th victim falling for 20 runs. With 3 overs remaining WA required 27 runs and Qld needed 3 wickets. Jackson bowled the 48th over from which 6 runs were taken - WA needing 21 runs from 12 balls. Prestwidge bowled his 10th over with Atkinson taking a single to give strike to Katich. The next ball was a full toss which Katich lofted over the mid wicket fence for 6. Katich then struck 2 runs to deep mid off and a single to mid off. The 49th over was already worth 10 runs to the Western Australians when Atkinson was removed; caught by Healy from the 5th ball - becoming Prestwidges 5th wicket. WA with 2 wicket's remaining needed 11 runs from 7 balls for victory. Stewart came to the crease and ran a single retaining strike at the end of a costly over for both sides. Stewart ran a 2 and then was runout brilliantly by Symonds for 4 trying to make a 2nd run in a decision that required the deliberations of the 3rd umpire. Jo Angel came to the crease with WA still needing 8 runs from 4 balls. He couldn't get the first ball he faced away but from his second the big man dropped the ball to his feet and stole a single, bringing Katich on strike with 2 balls left needing 7 runs. With a drive to deep mid wicket Katich managed only a single leaving Jo Angel with the task of hitting a six for victory from the last ball of the game. The crowd who had stayed to see the very last ball was urging their hero Jo Angel on. Kasprowicz turned at his mark came in and delivered a good length delivery to have Jo Angel out bowled for 1 run from the very last ball of the innings. Katich remained unbeaten on 74 from 73 balls with 5 fours and a six to his credit.
At the time of writing no Man of the match had been awarded that we know of, but Prestwidges 5 wicket haul for 58 runs off 10 overs should earn him this accolade.