WA teenager Albert Esterhuysen gave Sam Konstas an almighty send-off but it was NSW who had the last laugh in the One-Day Cup clash at the WACA Ground.
Esterhuysen, playing just his second one-dayer for WA, bowled Konstas for 40 and then unleashed an extended roar and stare-down in the Test opener’s direction during an emotional celebration.
Konstas entered Thursday’s match desperate for a big score to mount a solid case for an Ashes call-up, but he couldn’t go on with the job after a strong start.
Half-centuries to Kurtis Patterson (66 off 71 balls) and Moises Henriques (54 off 66) lifted NSW to a formidable 331.
In reply, WA were bowled out for 244 in 46.5 overs, with the returning Mitch Marsh making just two as NSW cruised to an 87-run bonus-point victory.
The result left WA nursing a 1-2 record, while NSW (2-1) moved into second spot, behind only unbeaten Tasmania (3-0).
WA’s innings never got going, despite boasting a stacked batting line-up that had Cameron Bancroft batting at No.7.
Marsh, who came in fresh off his unbeaten 103 in Australia’s T20 victory over New Zealand, was out in just the third over when he was caught on the boundary slashing at a wide Sean Abbott (3-28) delivery.
Joel Curtis (15), Sam Fanning (8) and Cooper Connolly (5) all came and went as WA crashed to 4-45 in the 10th over.
Sam Whiteman received a huge life on two when he was caught at slip – only for Jack Edwards’ delivery to be deemed a front-foot no-ball.
Whiteman went on to make 52 off 56 balls, but his departure in the 24th over at the hands of Tanveer Sangha was a bitter blow to WA’s victory hopes.
Bancroft (48), Ashton Agar (44) and Aaron Hardie (37) all produced handy knocks, but with the required run-rate soaring out of control, WA were never truly in the hunt following the top-order batting collapse.
Earlier, Konstas struck seven fours in a quick-fire knock before chopping on 19-year-old paceman Esterhuysen (2-58).
NSW slumped from 3-203 to 6-225 largely thanks to Bryce Jackson’s double strike in the 30th over that sent Patterson and Jack Edwards packing in the space of four balls.
But the Warriors couldn’t complete the job, with handy runs from Henriques, Sean Abbott (35) and Charlie Stobo (39 off 20 balls) getting NSW well beyond 300.
Marnus Labuschagne has spoken about his thirst to win back his Test and ODI spots after scoring his second century in the space of a week in Queensland’s five-wicket One-Day Cup loss to Tasmania.
Labuschagne cracked 105 off 91 balls to lead Queensland to 311 of 45.3 overs at Allan Border Field on Thursday.
In reply, Tasmania reached the victory target with 10 balls to spare courtesy of big knocks from Tim Ward (105 off 96 balls), Jordan Silk (85no off 61) and Caleb Jewell (79 off 76).
Tasmania (3-0) remain unbeaten on top of the table, while Queensland slipped to a 2-1 record.
Labuschagne’s big knock came just days after he scored 160 off 206 balls in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield draw with Tasmania, following on from his 130 off 118 balls in the Bulls’ One-Day Cup opener against Victoria last month.
The hot run of form comes at the perfect time for Labuschagne, who is in the midst of a huge bat-off to partner Usman Khawaja as opener for the Ashes.
There is also the option of Labuschagne returning to his preferred No.3 position if selectors opt not to pick allrounder Beau Webster, who is battling an ankle injury.
Labuschagne is also desperate to win back his ODI spot in time for the 2027 World Cup after being dropped for the upcoming series against India, which begins in Perth on October 19.
“I know when I get my opportunity back in the Test side and back in the one-day side, I’ll be ready to take it,” Labuschagne said on Thursday.
“Whenever you’re not in an Australian team, you’re disappointed.
“But I was very confident at the way I’m currently playing that I was going to come out here and score runs today
“I understand that 2027 World Cup is a long way away, and for me that’s the goal, to be back in that team in no time.
“I just want to be playing good cricket, that’s my focus right now.
“If it means I’m not doing that for Australia at this minute, that’s OK. I just want to be scoring runs consistently.”
Labuschagne cracked eight fours and two sixes in his sparkling knock on Thursday.
The 31-year-old was dropped on 91 when spinner Nikhil Chaudhary (3-66) couldn’t hold on to a sizzling return chance, and his eventual exit sparked a collapse of 7-70 as Queensland failed to capitalise on a strong start.
Century in the One-Day Cup
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 6, 2025
Century in the Sheffield Shield
Marnus Labuschagne is making it count in the Australian domestic season ???? pic.twitter.com/jui7WOD0xj
Matt Renshaw, who was called up ahead of Labuschagne for the upcoming ODI series against India, scored 38 off 35 balls.
Labuschagne’s most recent Test century came against England in 2023, with his lean run of form since then resulting in his axing for the 3-0 series win over the West Indies.
His ODI snub this week added further salt to the wound, but Labuschagne is oozing confidence ahead of what is shaping up to be a blockbuster summer.
“I’m in a really nice rhythm at the moment, feeling the game, just reading the game, what’s necessary,” Labuschagne said.
“That’s a really nice place to be as a cricketer. You’ve got three hundreds in four games – it’s enjoyable as a batter when you’re scoring runs.”
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