The Warriors were bowled out for 53 in 20.1 overs at the WACA Ground on Friday against a rampant Tasmania attack led superbly by Beau Webster (6-17 off six overs).
It was the second lowest score in One-Day Cup history, only narrowly bettering the 51 posted by South Australia against Tasmania in Hobart in 2003.
The reigning champions have been bundled out for 53 by Tasmania, losing EIGHT wickets for ONE run (a wide) 😱😱 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) #WAvTASScorecard: https://t.co/YjVX6RjFj7 pic.twitter.com/t2rdrNd8pBOctober 25, 2024
Tasmania chased down the paltry victory target in just 8.3 overs to secure a seven-wicket victory and a vital bonus point.Â
WA's bid for a fourth consecutive title now hangs by a thread.
At one-and-three, WA need to beat Victoria, South Australia and Queensland in their remaining three games - and rely on other results to fall their way - in order to secure a top-two spot and a berth in the March 1 final.
The Warriors were crawling at 2-52 in the 16th over of Friday's match before suffering one of the worst batting collapses witnessed in professional cricket.
In the space of 28 legal deliveries, WA lost eight wickets and registered just one run - in the sundries column - as Webster and Billy Stanlake (3-12) ran rampant.
It meant WA went from 2-52 to all out for 53, with not a single run scored by the players batting at No.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
The out-of-form Cameron Bancroft (14 off 29 balls) was the first to fall in the collapse when trapped lbw by Webster.
Ash Turner also fell lbw to Webster three balls later, and Josh Inglis was bowled by a Stanlake pearler one ball after that.
Cooper Connolly, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson and Joel Paris all posted ducks as WA's innings was brought to a crashing end.
Warriors opener D'Arcy Short top scored with 22 in a sorry looking scoreboard for the three-time defending champions.
WA fell short of their previous lowest score, the 59 they posted against Victoria at the MCG in 1969.
Webster was the hero for Tasmania, claiming the early scalp of Short before kick-starting the collapse in a career-best display.
Stanlake was also hugely effective, with his removal of Inglis among the highlights of the innings.Â
In reply to WA's embarrassing total, the Tigers raced to 0-27 after three overs as opener Mitchell Owen (29 off 17 balls) let loose with a series of powerful heaves.
Tasmania lost 3-1 as Caleb Jewell (3), Jordan Silk (1) and Owen fell in quick succession, but Matt Wade (21no off 13 balls) guided them home.
The result marked Tasmania's first win of the season, after a loss and a no-result from their first two games.
In a rare positive for WA, pace duo Joel Paris (2-10) and Lance Morris (1-20) claimed wickets in their returns from injury.
ONE-DAY CUP LOWEST SCORES
*51 - South Australia v Tasmania at Blundstone Arena, 2003
*53 - WA v Tasmania at the WACA, 2024
*59 - WA v Victoria at the MCG, 1969
*59 - CAXI v NSW at Bankstown Oval, 2015
*62 - Queensland v WA at the WACA, 1976
*62 - Tasmania v WA at the Gabba, 2014
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