A middle-order collapse has seen one-day champions NSW slip to a nine-run defeat in their season opener against Western Australia.
Chasing a victory target of 270 under lights at the WACA on Friday, NSW appeared well placed at 3-202 on the back of run-a-ball half-centuries from Kurtis Patterson (51) and captain Moises Henriques (72).
But two wickets in as many balls from WA paceman Jhye Richardson helped push the momentum back towards the home side as the Blues lost 3-1.
Ed Cowan was the last hope for NSW but the former Test opener was caught in the deep off the bowling of Andrew Tye for 53 in the penultimate over, with the Blues bowled out with four balls remaining.
Earlier, opener Shaun Marsh was the mainstay of the WA innings. The Test hopeful carried his bat so score 132 not out as the home side posted 9-269.
Marsh, who hit 17 fours in a disciplined innings, combined with Jonathan Wells (57) for a crucial 119-run stand for the fifth wicket after WA had stumbled their way to 4-91.
