WA sealed their 18th Defend title simply 10 minutes earlier than stumps in becoming vogue when Joel Paris took a blinder of a catch at gully to set off scenes of jubilation on the sphere and within the terraces.
“We had been on a shot clock, we had been actually hoping to complete it tonight,” Whiteman informed reporters. “That ultimate catch and that celebration… was simply a tremendous feeling that I am going to always remember.”
He changed Cameron Bancroft, arguably WA’s finest batter and the main Defend run scorer over the previous couple of seasons. Bancorft had been dominated out forward of the ultimate after struggling concussion in a motorcycle accident final weekend.
“The way in which somebody stood up once we actually wanted to all year long, it has been wonderful,” stated Whiteman, who was player-of-the-final along with his opening day century after WA had been despatched in to bat on a green-tinged floor. “Probably the most pleasing a part of it’s that it is typically another person who stepped up.
“We have had a troublesome slog this 12 months with accidents and Australian choice. I am simply extremely happy with the group.”
Whiteman, now a three-time Defend-winning captain, believed the newest triumph was WA’s sweetest. Including to their legacy, they turned the primary staff to win three titles in a row within the Defend and Marsh Cup concurrently.
WA gained their first hat-trick of Defend titles since their legendary staff of the late Eighties, which boasted Terry Alderman, Tom Moody and Geoff Marsh.
“Personally, it’s [the sweetest title],” Whiteman stated. “It must be one of many nice WA Defend groups….and I feel with the one-day stuff we’ve got to be one of many nice WA groups. Hopefully there’s some extra success down the road.”
