Newcastle cricketers Jason Sangha and Sam Bates both lost tight 50-over contests on Friday as the 2022-23 domestic season got underway.
NSW vice-captain Sangha scored eight runs late in a total of 7-277, but hosts Victoria (3-158) were awarded victory by three runs based on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method when bad light stopped play at St Kilda.
Sangha (0-14) was also hit for six by Matt Short at the end of the 29th over, which turned out to be the last ball of the men's One-Day Cup encounter.
Blues opener Daniel Hughes was named player of the match for his 117.
In round one of the Women's National Cricket League, left-arm orthodox spinner Bates took 1-34 for Victoria but Tahlia McGrath's unbeaten 111 steered South Australia home with three balls and three wickets to spare in Adelaide.
The Scorpions finished 7-268 in reply to Victoria's 2-264, featuring twin tons for Ellyse Perry (117) and Annabel Sutherland (110).
Meanwhile, players from across the greater Hunter region feature in multiple first XIs for Saturday's opening round of the Sydney grade competition.
Upper Hunter product Riley Ayre resumes at Randwick-Petersham after making his Sheffield Shield debut for NSW at the end of last season.
Maitland junior Jayden Park will help Mosman defend their 2021-22 title, Belmont's Toby Gray again lines up for finalists Northern Districts, City's Dylan Hunter has switched to Sydney Uni and Raymond Terrace wicketkeeper Max Farmer joins Fairfield-Liverpool.
Wests paceman Jeremy Nunan has been named for Blacktown alongside former Rosellas teammate Puru Gaur, but likely returns to Newcastle after a brief cameo in the state capital.
Hamwicks spinner Kain Anderson and Maitland batsman Will Fort are set to continue with Sydney CC.
