Queensland's hopes of advancing to the final of the Australian Men's One-Day Cup were dashed on February 23, 2025, as they suffered a humiliatin g six-wicket defeat to Western Australia at The Gabba. For this season's competition, the stakes were high for Queensland; they entered the match needing not just to win, but also for the second-placed NSW to lose against Victoria to guarantee their place.
Despite Queensland's sturdy season record, sitting comfortably at third place, they found themselves on the back foot early on. The team, which had secured three victories from six matches prior to this encounter, was hoping to turn their fortunes around against the struggling Western Australia, who had only managed one win and was firmly planted at the bottom of the points table.
The match began poorly for Queensland, with their star players Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson, and Matt Renshaw all dismissed cheaply, leaving the side reeling at 17 for three within the first five overs. It was clear early on—this was not going to be their day.
Engaging with their youthful and inexperienced bowling attack, Western Australia capitalized on the shaky start. Notably, their fast bowlers, including Brody Couch and Bryce Jackson, created pressure, dismissing key Queensland players with relative ease. Queensland's innings was characterized by inconsistency, losing wickets rapidly until they found themselves at 102 for 9. At this point, it seemed as if Queensland could be bowled out for a shockingly low total.
It wasn't until No. 10 Mitchell Swepson entered the scene, hitting 45 off just 35 balls, alongside key contributions from lesser-known players Lachlan Hearne and Angus Lovell, who provided brief resistance. Swepson's heroic knock included three sixes and three fours, but it was not enough to bring Queensland back from the brink.
Queensland crumbled to 131 all out in 39 overs. For Western Australia, Bryce Jackson exhibited excellent form with 4 wickets for 39 runs, supported by Couch, who claimed 3 for 45. Their pace attack was what truly shined, as it was led by players with minimal List A experience yet proved deadly against Queensland’s batting line-up.
When it was time for Western Australia to bat, they began their chase of 132 runs with remarkable confidence. The innings was anchored by strong contributions from Hilton Cartwright, Sam Fanning, and Jayden Goodwin, who collectively steered their side past the target with ease, achieving victory by reaching 132 for 4 in only 26 overs. This emphatic win marked only their second of the season, providing them with much-needed relief after struggling throughout the tournament.
The performance of Queensland has drawn criticism, particularly since they were expected to secure their place with this match strongly playing out to their favor. "We needed to win this match and let the other results fall where they may," said Swepson. "Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize on our position, and it's frustrating to bow out like this."
Looking back over the season, Queensland’s failure to convert early leads and build upon winning records became their downfall, as they missed out on final contention due to inconsistent performances. Despite high expectations and strong early-season victories, not capitalizing on such matches led to disappointment.
On the contrary, Western Australia found joy at last. Under the leadership of Ashton Turner, the team saw potential moving forward, stating after the match, "This victory is what we’ve been striving for. It's our second win, and it feels great to put up such a fight against Queensland." Their youth-focused strategy has been the subject of scrutiny, but this win could signal hope for future seasons.
Both sides are scheduled to regroup and strategize as the tournament wraps up, with Queensland particularly needing to evaluate their roster and make adjustments to improve their form. Meanwhile, Western Australia aims to build on this victory, pondering how to capitalize on this momentum for seasons to come.