Image: Kurtis Patterson's brilliant 110 powered New South Wales to 224 / © ESPNcricinfo
On September 16, 2025, at Sydney’s Cricket Central, New South Wales (NSW) walked out to bat first in their One-Day Cup match against Tasmania, hoping to set a formidable total on a pitch that promised a fair battle between bat and ball.
Openers Kurtis Patterson and Blake Nikitaras took guard, each with a clear role, Patterson to anchor with his measured technique, and Nikitaras to attack early and unsettle the bowlers. The plan faltered quickly, though, as Nikitaras fell in the 1.3 over to a fiery Billy Stanlake. Trying to seize the initiative, Nikitaras managed only 5 runs off 8 balls, including one boundary, before his stumps were rattled, leaving NSW at 6 for 1.
Matthew Gilkes, the wicket-keeper-batsman, strode in to join Patterson, tasked with steadying the innings. The pair struggled to find fluency, with Tasmania’s bowlers maintaining tight lines. Gilkes, unable to settle, scored just 4 runs off 15 balls without a single boundary. His brief stay ended in the 6.3 over when he edged a Beau Webster delivery to the keeper, leaving NSW at 33 for 2. The early breakthroughs gave Tasmania a clear upper hand, exploiting the new ball to keep NSW’s scoring in check.
Oliver Davies was next, aiming to rebuild alongside Patterson, who was quietly accumulating runs. Davies, however, couldn’t find his rhythm, scratching around for 3 runs off 18 balls. His tentative innings ended in the 11.6 over when spinner Matthew Kuhnemann bowled him with a cleverly disguised delivery, reducing NSW to 42 for 3. Three wickets down inside the powerplay put the middle order under immense pressure, with the Tasmanian bowlers dictating terms.
Moises Henriques, the experienced all-rounder, joined Patterson to stem the tide. Their partnership became the cornerstone of NSW’s innings, adding a vital 104 runs for the fourth wicket. Henriques played with flair, scoring 41 runs off 51 balls, including one four and two towering sixes that energized the crowd. Patterson, meanwhile, played the anchor role to perfection, reaching his half-century with a blend of resolute defense and crisp drives. Their stand ended in the 32.3 over when Nathan Ellis, Tasmania’s wily pacer, bowled Henriques with a pinpoint delivery, leaving NSW at 146 for 4.
Lachlan Shaw came in next but couldn’t make an impact. Scoring just 3 runs off 10 balls, he was bowled by Nikhil Chaudhary in the 34.4 over, undone by a spinning delivery that kept low. At 152 for 5, NSW were wobbling again, but Patterson held firm, guiding the innings with composure. Sean Abbott, the team captain, joined him and offered brief support, adding 24 runs for the sixth wicket. Abbott contributed 9 runs off 20 balls, including one four, before Ellis struck again in the 40.1 over, bowling him to leave NSW at 176 for 6.
Patterson, by now, had reached a magnificent century, a gritty 110 runs off 125 balls, laced with 10 fours. His innings was a masterclass in batting under pressure, rotating the strike and punishing loose balls with precision. Tanveer Sangha, the young leg-spinner, joined him and provided valuable support, scoring 26 runs off 35 balls, including a four and a six, to push the total forward. Patterson’s epic knock ended in the 44.6 over when he was caught and bowled by Chaudhary, leaving NSW at 197 for 7.
Adam Zampa managed 3 runs off 6 balls before falling to Ellis in the 48.6 over, caught by Mitchell Owen, with the score at 222 for 9. Liam Hatcher provided a quick 9 runs off 9 balls, including one four, but was caught by Kuhnemann off Webster in the 49.4 over. Ryan Hadley remained not out on 1 run off 1 ball as NSW were bowled out for 224 in 49.4 overs. Patterson’s century and his partnership with Henriques had given the innings respectability, but regular wickets prevented a more dominant total.
Tasmania’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Beau Webster the standout, claiming 3 for 41 in 9.4 overs with his disciplined medium pace. Nathan Ellis matched him, taking 3 for 37 in 10 overs, using his variations to break key partnerships. Billy Stanlake struck early, finishing with 1 for 41 in 10 overs, while Matthew Kuhnemann bowled tightly for his 1 for 34 in 10 overs. Nikhil Chaudhary picked up 2 for 39 in 7 overs, and Mitchell Owen went wicketless, conceding 29 runs in 3 overs.
Tasmania conceded 10 extras (3 leg byes, 7 wides), showing decent control but with room for sharper fielding. NSW’s innings, with a run rate of 4.51, relied on steady accumulation rather than fireworks. The 104-run stand between Patterson and Henriques was the highlight, but frequent wickets kept Tasmania in the game. The total of 224 was competitive but would test NSW’s bowlers in the chase.
Tasmania began their chase of 225 with openers Mitchell Owen and Jake Weatherald, knowing a solid start was crucial. Owen started aggressively, hitting a six in his 9 runs off 8 balls, but fell in the 1.2 over, caught by Oliver Davies at slip off Ryan Hadley. The very next ball, Hadley struck again, bowling captain Beau Webster for a duck, leaving Tasmania at 9 for 2. This double blow set a tense tone for the chase.
Tim Ward joined Weatherald and launched a brisk counterattack, scoring 26 off 14 balls with five fours. His aggressive intent lifted Tasmania’s spirits, but he fell in the 4.5 over, caught by Adam Zampa off Sean Abbott, leaving the score at 38 for 3. Macalister Wright followed but failed to score, bowled by Abbott for a 7-ball duck in the 6.6 overs, reducing Tasmania to 42 for 4. The early collapse put the chase in jeopardy.
Matthew Wade, the new batsman, joined Weatherald to stabilize the innings. Their 54-run fifth-wicket partnership offered hope, with Weatherald scoring a measured 28 off 51 balls, including a four and a six, and Wade contributing 40 off 41 balls with five fours, blending deft touches with solid defense. Weatherald fell in the 18.4 over, caught by Hadley off Davies, leaving Tasmania at 96 for 5. Nikhil Chaudhary came in aggressively but lasted just 6 balls, scoring 5 runs with a four before Zampa had him caught by Hadley in the 19.4 over, making it 101 for 6.
Wade’s resistance ended in the 23.4 over when he was caught and bowled by Tanveer Sangha, leaving Tasmania at 118 for 7. Nathan Ellis joined Bradley Hope but scored only 1 run off 7 balls before Sangha bowled him in the 25.4 over, reducing Tasmania to 124 for 8. With 101 runs still needed and just two wickets left, the chase seemed doomed.
Enter Bradley Hope and Matthew Kuhnemann, who scripted a remarkable turnaround with an unbroken 101-run ninth-wicket partnership. Hope played a patient 49 not out off 91 balls, with three fours, focusing on survival and rotation. Kuhnemann, with an unbeaten 56 off 71 balls, including four fours and a six, complemented Hope with timely aggression. Their stand guided Tasmania to 225 for 8 in 49.2 overs, securing a thrilling 2-wicket win with 4 balls to spare. Billy Stanlake did not bat.
NSW’s bowlers fought hard but couldn’t break the final stand. Sean Abbott led with 2 for 48 in 10 overs, striking early. Ryan Hadley took 2 for 44 in 10 overs, his double strike a highlight. Tanveer Sangha was economical, claiming 2 for 34 in 10 overs, while Adam Zampa took 1 for 43 in 10 overs. Oliver Davies chipped in with 1 for 11 in 2 overs, and Liam Hatcher went wicketless, conceding 42 in 7.2 overs. Extras totaled 11 (2 byes, 1 leg bye, 1 no-ball, 7 wides), reflecting some loose deliveries.
Tasmania’s run rate of 4.56, slightly above NSW’s, was driven by the late heroics of Hope and Kuhnemann. The early collapse, followed by Wade and Weatherald’s 54-run stand, set the stage for the match-winning partnership. NSW’s bowlers, with Abbott and Hadley’s early seam and Sangha and Zampa’s spin control, kept the pressure on, but Tasmania’s lower-order resilience clinched a memorable victory.
The match’s defining moment came early in Tasmania’s chase when Ryan Hadley delivered a stunning double strike in the second over. With Tasmania at 9 for 1, Hadley dismissed Mitchell Owen, who edged a sharp delivery to Oliver Davies at slip for 9 runs off 8 balls. The next ball, Hadley clean bowled captain Beau Webster for a duck, leaving Tasmania reeling at 9 for 2.
This electrifying sequence set a challenging tone for the chase, showcasing Hadley’s pace and precision. Despite Tasmania’s fightback, led by Bradley Hope’s 49 not out and Matthew Kuhnemann’s 56 not out, Hadley’s back-to-back wickets remained the game’s standout moment.
Matthew Kuhnemann earned the TCNI Hero of the Day for his match-defining knock. Entering at a precarious 124 for 8 in the 25.4 over, Kuhnemann scored an unbeaten 56 off 71 balls, with four fours and a six, at a strike rate of 78.87.
His composed innings, alongside Bradley Hope’s 49 not out, produced an unbroken 101-run ninth-wicket stand, guiding Tasmania to 225 for 8 in 49.2 overs. Facing a disciplined NSW attack led by Sean Abbott (2 for 48) and Ryan Hadley (2 for 44), Kuhnemann’s calm approach and timely aggression turned a near-certain defeat into a thrilling victory, earning him well-deserved recognition.