WA has fallen agonisingly short of victory in its season opening match against Queensland at Allan Border Field.
WA Fall To Queensland In Final-Over Thriller
The visitors couldn’t capitalise on a strong start to the encounter, as rising star Hugh Weibgen helped Queensland to maintain its unbeaten start to the season.
Joel Curtis struck 116 off 108 balls and Sam Whiteman added 83 as WA posted a formidable 9-321 on Sunday.
In reply, the Bulls slumped to 4-38 before Weibgen (115no off 94 balls) produced a masterful knock to lift his team to victory with just five balls to spare.
Jack Wildermuth (74 off 49 balls) and Michael Neser (41 off 23) also produced important knocks in the remarkable run chase.
Weibgen, playing just his second List A match, was the ultimate hero, the 20-year-old cracking nine fours and five sixes in an unforgettable innings.
Wildermuth provided plenty of fireworks with five fours and six sixes, while Neser (three fours, three sixes) produced a handy late cameo to ensure the required run-rate stayed within control.
Fittingly, Weibgen – Australia's victorious Under-19 World Cup captain last year – hit the winning runs when he crunched a Matt Kelly full toss for four.
WA looked to be in an unbeatable position after devastating Queensland's top order.
Dangerman Marnus Labuschagne, who posted 130 in the Bulls' win over Victoria earlier this week, was out for two off 19 balls.
Jack Clayton (5), Matthew Renshaw (5) and Jimmy Peirson (18) were also part of the top-order collapse.
Weibgen walked to the crease with the scoreboard reading 4-38 in the 13th over.
He was dropped on 109 by Sam Fanning with Queensland still needing 11 more runs for victory, and the miss proved costly.
Earlier, third-gamer Curtis struck 12 fours and four sixes during his sparkling knock, combining with Whiteman for a 124-run third-wicket partnership for WA.
Curtis brought up his maiden One-Day Cup century by hooking Neser (1-62) for six.
It would take something special to remove Curtis, and Mitch Swepson obliged with a spectacular one-handed catch at mid-off while running with the flight of the ball.
Cameron Bancroft's quest for early-season runs went unfulfilled, with the former Test opener out for 12 when he edged Tom Straker behind.
Leg-spinner Swepson snared 4-52 and Straker chipped in with 3-65, but it was Weibgen's heroics with the bat that set tongues wagging.
Joel Paris (3-40) led the way for WA with the ball, while Bryce Jackson (2-71) and Liam Haskett (2-72) also took multiple wickets.
Curtis said he was pleased to make the most of his opportunity at the top of the order.
“It was nice to get a few runs,” he said.
“It was good to get an opportunity up the top of the order.
“In One-Day cricket I think it’s the best place to bat.
“We had a tour up to Darwin for T20 which helped with that, and I started off well with some pre-season games.”
WA will now travel to Adelaide, ahead of a clash with South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on Wednesday.