NSW wins well

NSW has taken the first step towards shedding its record as the country's worst one-day side, thrashing Western Australia by seven wickets in a one-sided Ford Ranger Cup clash at North Sydney Oval.

Chasing a modest 180 for victory, the Blues cruised home with more than 13 overs to spare, picking up a bonus point in the process.

Steve Smith (31 not out) brought up victory with a massive six over the mid-wicket fence.

It was just the start to the season Simon Katich's men – fresh from their success in the Twenty20 Champions League – were looking for following three consecutive wooden spoon finishes in the FRC.

Discarded Test openers Phil Jaques and Phil Hughes laid the platform, putting on 74 for the second wicket.

Jaques made a run-a-ball 50 with Hughes contributing a patient and unbeaten 72 and Brad Haddin (27) and Smith chipping in with valuable knocks.

Hughes started slowly but looked more at home the longer he stayed at the crease.

His 109-ball innings contained a six and seven fours.

Opener Dave Warner (1) was the first batsman out for NSW, driving Ashley Noffke (2-24) straight to Luke Towers at point with the score on two.

Towers turned from hero to villain in the space of four balls after dropping Jaques when the in-form left-hander was just two.

He went on to make his seventh domestic one-day half-century before advancing down the track to a Noffke yorker and watching in disgust as his stumps were rattled.

Jaques clubbed six fours in an entertaining knock.

Haddin, back from an injury lay-off, found the middle of the bat straight away as he quickly made his way to 27 from as many balls.

When he played over the top of a Michael Hogan Yorker, the hosts were well on their way to victory at 3-117.

Hughes and Smith saw the Blues home without any problem.

Earlier, WA collapsed badly to be bowled out for just 179 inside 45 overs.

The Warriors looked to be building toward a competitive total at 3-109 after 25 overs but lost 4-13 in the middle order, slumping to 7-149 at one stage.

The visitors continued to lose wickets at regular intervals to fall well short of the 200-run mark, eventually all out on the first ball of the 45th over.

Burt Cockley (4-39) was the pick of the Blues' bowlers, ably supported by Stephen O'Keefe (1-22), Mitchell Starc (2-23) and Smith (2-64).

Veteran seamer Stuart Clark (0-15 from eight overs) helped strangle the WA innings.

After being sent into bat on a perfect Sydney spring day, the Warriors moved to 23 before Towers (6) was caught by Hughes at first slip off the fifth ball of leg-spinner Smith's first over.

Towers rocked backed to execute a cut shot but top edged to Hughes, who held on to the sharp chance.

Luke Ronchi (25) and Wes Robinson comfortably moved the score along to 60 before the arrival of Cockley halted their progress.

The NSW quick had the dangerous Ronchi caught behind attempting to glide the ball down to third man, wicket-keeper Brad Haddin taking a spectacular one-handed catch to his right.

Australian Test batsmen Marcus North looked in good touch early, punching a six onto the roof of the O'Reilly Stand.

But his stay was cut short on 17 with the WA total on 101, left-arm paceman Starc bowling him around his legs.

That triggered a middle order collapse which saw Robinson (78), David Bandy (16), Theo Doropoulos (2) and Noffke (1) depart in quick succession.

Robinson's defiant 90-ball stay came to end when he prodded at a delivery from Cockley and feathered a simple catch to Haddin.

Bandy was run out seven runs later, Simon Katich throwing down the stumps from cover after the batsman scampered off for a quick single only to be sent back.

Doropoulus came and went quickly, superbly caught by Starc just inside the boundary rope after coming down the track to O'Keefe

The Warriors' tail put up token resistance and was unable to take the score anywhere near the 200-plus mark needed to pressure NSW's strong batting line-up.

Western Australia
Robinson c Haddin b Cockley 78 (90)
Towers c Hughes b Smith 6 (19)
Ronchi c Haddin b Cockley 25 (27)
North b Starc 17 (15)
Bandy run out (Katich) 16 (27)
Doropoulos c Starc b O'Keefe 2 (9)
Fawcett lbw O'Keefe
Noffke c Haddin b Cockley 1 (5)
Dorey c Cockley b Starc 3 (13)
Knowles b Cockley 4(
Hogan not out 9 (9)

Extras: 3 (1b, 2lb)
Total: 179 (10 wickets, 44.1 overs)

FOW: 1-23, 2-60, 3-101, 4-136, 5-143, 6-145, 7-149, 8-165, 9-169, 10-179

Bowling
Clark 8 – 1 – 15 - 0
Starc 10 – 4 – 23 - 2
Smith 9 – 0 – 64 - 2
O'Keefe 7 – 1 – 22 - 1
Cockley 8.1 – 0 – 39 - 4
Katich 2 – 0 – 13 – 0

NSW
Warner c Towers b Noffke 1 (2)
Hughes not out 72 (109)
Jaques b Noffke 50 (51)
Haddin b Hogan 27 (27)
Smith not out 31 (30)

Extras: 5 (2b, 1lb, 2w)
Total: 184 (3 wickets, 36.4 overs)

FOW: 1-2, 2-76, 3-117

Bowling
Dorey 7 – 1 – 33 – 0 (1w)
Noffke 10 – 0 – 34 – 2
Knowles 4 – 0 – 29 – 0 (1w)
Bandy 5 – 0 – 25 - 0
North 5.4 – 0 – 26 - 0
Fawcett 1 – 0 – 7 - 0
Hogan 4 – 0 – 27 – 1