Western Australia 132 for 4 beat Queensland 131 (Swepson 45, Jackson 4-39, Couch 3-45) by six wickets
Queensland crashed out of the One-Day Cup title race in humbling fashion, suffering a six-wicket loss to wooden spooners Western Australia at the Gabba.
In reply, a WA side featuring mostly emerging players reached the victory target in just 26 overs, with Hilton Cartwright, Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin all chipping in.
Queensland entered their last match of the regular season in third spot and well in the hunt to claim a spot in the March 1 final. They needed to beat WA and for Victoria to beat second-placed NSW to lock away a spot in the decider.
Even if NSW beat Victoria, Queensland could have still made the final by posting a bonus-point win over WA. But things went awry for the Bulls from the outset.
Star trio Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson and Matt Renshaw all fell cheaply as Queensland slumped to 17 for 3 in the fifth over.
Lachlan Hearne and Angus Lovell briefly steadied the ship, but those knocks were only a temporary reprieve as WA’s youth-laden attack continued to wreak havoc.
Queensland were 102 for 9 before No. 10 Mitchell Swepson whacked 45 off 35 balls to at least give Queensland some sort of chance to pull off a miracle win.
The pace trio have just 15 List A appearances between them, and spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was playing just his second List A match.
But despite their youth and inexperience, the WA attack ripped through Queensland’s talented line-up with ease. Swepson whacked three sixes and three fours in the sole real resistance Queensland were able to put up.
WA made light work of the run chase, with teenage paceman Callum Vidler the only Queensland bowler to make any true inroads.
The win was only WA’s second of the season, with their hopes of winning four straight titles derailed by injuries and poor form across the campaign.