3 minute read

Daniel Hughes joined a list of NSW's greats with his century helping the Blues past Western Australia and back into one-day cup contention.

Daniel Hughes thumped a second century in as many matches to help NSW revive their flagging one-day cup campaign with a 77-run victory over Western Australia.

WA suffered a top-order collapse to eventually be all out for 271 off 44.3 overs in response to NSW's 6-348.

It was a first win in four matches for NSW to keep alive their slim hopes of a final berth with three rounds remaining.

Hughes was in imperious form at Drummoyne Oval, scoring a career-best 152 off 143 balls, following on from his 112 in an eight-run defeat to WA on Monday.

It was a fifth one-day century for Hughes who now sits alongside Steve Waugh, Phil Jaques, Brad Haddin and Nic Maddinson with the most one-day tons for the Blues.

In reply, WA got off to a flying start with Josh Philippe smashing 64 off 50 balls.

But his dismissal kick-started a collapse of 4-18 for WA's well credentialed batting line-up.

Hilton Cartwright (74 off 68 balls) and Ashton Agar (30 off 35) halted the flow of wickets with some entertaining batting but the visitors were never really in contention from there.

Hughes looked in confident touch from the outset, scoring at a consistent rate before upping the pace after reaching his century, eventually ending with 13 fours and four sixes.

Hughes received able support from Moises Henriques (67 off 58 balls), with the pair adding 116 for the second wicket.

Rookie Matthew Gilkes joined in the run-scoring, with the 20-year displaying maturity beyond his years with a 51-ball 82, reaching his maiden half century off just 39 balls.