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A career high one day domestic score from Josh Inglis and four wickets from Joel Paris has helped Western Australia to a double bonus point win over Victoria at the WACA Ground on Tuesday.
Inglis hammered 91 from 57 balls as Western Australia was bowled out for 317, supported by half centuries from Sam Whiteman (66) and Shaun Marsh (54) before Victoria lost 8-44 in their chase to be skittled for just 147.
Western Australia won the toss and batted on a beautiful day in the West, needing a win to keep their finals hopes alive in the Marsh Cup.
Cameron Bancroft fell early as he slashed Scott Boland to slip for nine, but Whiteman and Marsh built strongly with a 98 run partnership for the second wicket.
Whiteman was particularly aggressive against the spin of Matt Short, taking him for four boundaries in one over inside the opening powerplay as the home side had a great launching pad for a strong total.
The left handed pair both reached half centuries but Whiteman fell for 66, stumped down the leg side advancing at Jon Holland having faced 60 balls and hit ten fours and one six.
Marsh and Cameron Green continued to build steadily before young all-rounder Jonathan Merlo struck a pivotal double blow, Green sensationally caught by wicketkeeper Harper one handed high to his right having made 13 and Marsh out two balls later, also caught behind.
Josh Inglis and Hilton Cartwright formed a strong partnership in the back half of the innings, Cartwright hitting three sixes as the innings began to accelerate.
He would miscue a catch to mid-on off the bowling of Will Sutherland having made 36, but Inglis took command of the innings in a blistering late innings assault, smashing nine fours and five sixes before being bowled by Merlo in the 45th over.
The innings lost momentum from there as Victoria fought back late, Merlo with a maiden five wicket haul in just his sixth List A match with Western Australia all out for 317.
Marcus Harris (10) fell caught behind to Matt Kelly while Nic Maddinson picked out short fine leg having made a solitary single, Victoria's big chase in early strife at 2-26.
Skipper Peter Handscomb and opener Harper recovered sufficiently with a strong stand of 77, Handscomb hitting six boundaries in his 42 before skewing a Liam Guthrie slower ball to Cameron Green at midwicket.
It started the slide for Victoria, Liam O'Connor removing Matt Short (1) and Mackenzie Harvey (6) as opener Harper reached 50, but he became the leg spinner's third victim when he chipped back a caught and bowled, Victoria 6-125.
The end came swiftly thanks to Joel Paris, who knocked over James Pattinson and Scott Boland for ducks before disturbing Merlo's stumps to seal an emphatic win for Western Australia.
Paris claimed 4-21, his second straight four wicket haul in the Marsh Cup while O'Connor snared 3-35 in a result that saw the home side claim two bonus points, rocketing them back in to contention for the Marsh Cup Final with one match still to play.
The teams return to the WACA Ground on Thursday for a Sheffield Shield match, the first ball to be bowled at 10:30 AM with all the action on 91.3 Sport FM.
IMAGE: Cricket Australia.