A controversial Ed Cowan century has helped Tasmania to a convincing 72-run victory over NSW in an action packed Ryobi One-Day Cup clash at the SCG on Friday night.
Having conceded the first stage point to the Blues after struggling to a modest 3-76 in their first trip to the crease, the Tigers mounted a stirring fightback to post an imposing total of 7-286.
Needing 196 runs from their final 25 overs to secure maximum points, the Blues made a bright start with both Phil Jaques (95 off 103) and Brad Haddin (56 off 62) reaching their half-centuries before the gloveman was brilliantly run out by George Bailey four overs in.
The Blues elevated Nic Maddinson (20 off 22) up the order but the 18-year-old's promising knock came to a meek end when he spooned a regulation catch off the bowling of the in-form Jason Krejza (3-55).
Jaques, whose superb knock included seven boundaries and two sixes, was next to fall when he was trapped in front by Xavier Doherty (3-35) who was the pick of the Tasmanian bowlers.
His dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse as the Blues lost 4-1 to all but guarantee the ladder-leading Tigers their third straight victory of the campaign as the hosts were bundled out for 214 with three overs remaining.
Cowan's dramatic innings proved the difference between the two sides, with the left hander smashing an unbeaten 131 from 120 deliveries including nine fours and two sixes.
But his second domestic one-day ton was not without controversy, with the 28-year-old adjudged caught-behind by umpire Paul Reifell off Stuart Clark with his score on 74, only to be recalled by Blues gloveman Brad Haddin.
The left-hander edged to Haddin behind the stumps, however, the keeper was unsure if he'd taken the catch and recalled his former team-mate.
Replays showed Haddin clearly took the catch with only his gloves - not the ball - touching the sandy SCG surface.
It was to prove a major turning point in the match as the Tigers smashed a further 123 runs from the remaining 11 overs of the innings to set up the resounding win.
Travis Birt (87 off 62) also played a key role as he and Cowan put on 172-runs for the fifth wicket.
Brett Lee, who was on a hat-trick late in the innings, toiled hard to finish the pick of the Blues bowlers with figures of 2-74 from his allotted 12 overs.
It was an unhappy return to domestic cricket for Phil Hughes (two) who lasted just 11 deliveries before he edged to Doolan behind the stumps to give Gerard Denton (2-59) a well-deserved scalp.
The former Test opener who bore the brunt of a fiery opening spell from Denton in his return match from injury.
NSW v Tas scorecardTasmania 1st inningsCosgrove c O'Keefe b Copeland 12 (17)Wells b O'Keefe 20 (34)Cowan not out 25 (39)Bailey c Haddin b Clark 16 (28)Drew not out 0 (2)Extras: 3 (1lb, 2w)Total: 76 (3 wickets, 20 overs)FoW: 1-24, 2-40, 3-76,
BowlingLee 6 - 2 - 21 - 0Copeland 4 - 0 - 18 - 1O'Keefe 3 - 0 -10 -1Clark 4 - 0 - 19 - 0Coyte 3 - 0 - 7 - 0
NSW 1st inningsHaddin not out 41 (49)Hughes c Doolan b Denton 2 (11)Jaques not out 45 (60)Extras: 3 (1lb, 2w)Total: 91 (1 wickets, 20 overs)FoW: 1-4,
BowlingDenton 5 - 0 - 28 - 1 (2w)Faulkner 3 - 1 - 12 - 0Doherty 5 - 0 - 20 - 0Drew 2 - 0 - 11 - 0Krejza 5 - 0 -19 - 0
Tasmania 2nd inningsCosgrove c O'Keefe b Copeland 12 (17)Wells b O'Keefe 20 (34)Cowan not out 131 (120)Bailey c Haddin b Clark 16 (28)Drew b Coyte 1 (5)Birt b Lee 87 (62)Lockyear lbw Lee 0 (1)Krejza run out (Haddin) 7 (5)Doolan not out 2 (2)Extras: 10 (2b, 1lb, 4nb, 3w)
Total: 286 (7 wickets, 45 overs)FoW: 1-24, 2-40, 3-76, 4-86, 5-258, 6-258, 7-268,BowlingLee 12 - 4 - 74 - 2 (2nb, 2w)Copeland 8 - 0 - 59 - 1 (1w)O'Keefe 9 - 0 -47 -1Clark 9 - 0 - 64 - 1 (1nb)Coyte 7 - 0 - 31 - 1 (1nb)
NSW 2nd inningsHaddin run out (Bailey) 56 (62)Hughes c Doolan b Denton 2 (11)Jaques lbw Doherty 95 (103)Maddinson c Faulkner b Krejza 20 (22)Khawaja b Krejza 6 (12)Forrest c Cosgrove b Denton 16 (15)Rohrer b Krejza 0 (4)O'Keefe b Doherty 0 (2)Coyte c Faulkner b Doherty 12 (16)Lee run out (Doherty) 0 (2)Clark not out 1 (1)Extras: 6 (2lb, 4w)Total: 214 (10 wickets, 42 overs)FoW: 1-4, 2-114, 3-167, 4-184, 5-184, 6-184, 7-185, 8-206, 9-208, 10-214.
BowlingDenton 9 - 0 - 59 - 2 (2w)Faulkner 7 - 1 - 39 - 0 (1w)Doherty 10 - 0 - 35 - 3Drew 4 - 0 - 24 - 0Krejza 12 - 1 -55 - 3 (1w)