New South Wales 493 for 9 dec (Patterson 167*, Konstas 88) beat Western Australia 211 & (Bancroft 48, Edwards 5-41, Bird 3-24) by an innings & 68 runs
Edwards claimed his second five-wicket haul of the match on Monday to help the Blues win by an innings and 68 runs, with Western Australia all out for 184.
But while the margin may have sounded as if Edwards had helped the Blues to a comprehensive victory, it was anything but. Western Australia entered the final session with six wickets in hand, looking likely to hold on for a draw at the SCG.
But when Edwards inspired a collapse of 4 for 7, the visitors looked spent with almost 21 overs to survive and only two wickets in hand.
The two tail-enders looked likely to effect Western Australia’s great escape, before Rocchiccioli edged Edwards to second slip just before 6pm on the final day to concede defeat.
NSW’s win capped a near perfect performance from Edwards as captain, with the seamer taking 5 for 41 with both innings.
“Great win, especially with the rain taking time out of the game [on day two],” Edwards said. “I feel like I’ve been bowling well this year, and it’s nice to get the reward for it.
“It was just about sticking at it. I thought we just had to make them play a bit more. When we did that, we were creating chances.”
Sangha also spun a ball across Hilton Cartwright to draw his edge and have him caught at slip seven overs later. But Western Australia were still able to spend the majority of the day looking likely to hold on, before Edwards’ late heroics.
NSW had started the day in last place on the ladder headed into the BBL break, but now sit third. Western Australia are fourth.
