Tasmania 203 (Prestwidge 71, McDermott 42, Scott 3-50) beat New South Wales 158 (MacMillan 3-29) by 57 runs (DLS method)
Tasmania handed NSW their first loss of the domestic limited‑overs season, winning by 57 runs via the DLS method at Sydney’s Cricket Central on Tuesday.
Prestwidge, not typically a batting standout, was promoted to open the innings and smashed 71 off 56 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes, despite two rain interruptions that together lasted nearly three hours.
“I don’t know if it suits me,” the 24‑year‑old laughed when asked about his unfamiliar opener role. “It was great to give the team a solid start. I wish I could have carried on, but it was good fun.”
After returning to the crease at 53 without loss, Tasmania batted freely with 21 overs remaining and finished all out for 203.
NSW never looked capable of chasing Tasmania’s revised target of 216 to win off 30 overs, and were bowled out for 158 in 26 overs.
Ollie Davies, fresh from a double‑century in NSW’s Sheffield Shield draw with the Tigers, fell for 13 at the end of the second over, and fellow opener Kurtis Patterson was dismissed two balls later.
Wickets fell steadily through NSW’s chase as the middle order of Riley Kingsell, Ryan Hicks and Will Salzmann failed to capitalize on their starts.
Tasmania’s Caleb Jewell ran out Liam Hatcher to seal the victory after the tailender called NSW’s top‑scorer Jake Scott for an ill‑advised single. Highly regarded off‑spinner Raf MacMillan was Tasmania’s standout bowler.
Prestwidge, who also contributed 1‑18 from three overs, noted that the rain delays made the game ‘tricky’. “That’s huge for us, securing two wins from three matches,” he added.
