New South Wales secured a four-wicket victory over Queensland at Allan Border Field on Tuesday, chasing a target of 359 to mark Brad Haddin’s first match as head coach with a win. The Blues finished on 362/6 with six balls remaining in the innings.
Will Salzmann and Jake Scott led the recovery after NSW fell to 6/251. The pair produced an unbeaten 108-run stand for the seventh wicket to complete the chase. The match featured 35 sixes in total—21 by NSW and 14 by Queensland—marking the second-highest tally in the history of the Australian One-Day Cup.
Tactical analysis suggests a shift toward a more aggressive approach under Haddin, highlighted by Kurtis Patterson’s promotion to the opening slot. Patterson scored 63 off 32 balls. Haddin had previously outlined his objectives for the program, stating: “I am looking forward to working with our current crop of talented players to bring back an aura to NSW cricket and to have a team with a formidable, distinctive style of play we can all be proud of.”
NSW debutant Riley Kingsell, the son of Olympic swimmer Sarah Ryan, contributed 79 off 82 balls in the middle order. Earlier, Queensland’s total of 358 was built around Hugh Weibgen, who struck 125 off 89 deliveries, including seven sixes.
NSW bowler Tom Straker finished with figures of 1/105 from nine overs. Following the result, Queensland’s bowling unit has now failed to defend totals of 335 and 358 in consecutive matches. The Bulls sit 6th on the table with zero points after two games, while New South Wales moves into 2nd place with four points after their season opener.
