Amy Smith, Meg Phillips shine as Tasmanian Tigers register fourth successive win

An allround performance from Amy Smith and an unbeaten 49 from Meg Phillips helped the Tasmania Tigers hold their nerve in a thrilling one-run victory against Western Australia in the Women's National Cricket League fixture on Friday (February 19).



Searching for their first win in this season, the WA Women were off to a steady start. Openers Ashley Day and Chloe Piparo added 33 runs before the former got out to Belinda Vakarewa for 12 runs from 34 balls. Although Heather Graham got out shortly after, Megan Banting and Nicole Bolton kept WA in the chase. They scored 75 runs together before Banting got out to Graham. She made 53 runs from 103 balls.



However, Bolton was going strong at the other end with Amy Edgar. The 32-year-old left-hander scored 71 runs from 79 deliveries before getting out to Smith. The 16-year-old leg-spinner went on a wicket-taking spree as she got rid of Mathilda Carmichael, Edgar and Piepa Cleary.



The WA were reduced to 194 for eight after 47 overs. Taneale Peschel tried to pull off a miracle as she hit 15 off 11 and got her team closer to the target. With seven runs required to win in the last over, the WA women fell short by one run. Smith was the pick of the bowler with four wickets for 27 runs in her seven overs.



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Earlier, being put in to bat, the Tigers lost Sasha Moloney and Nicola Carey off consecutive deliveries to Peschel. They were stuttering at 16 for two. Joined by Graham, Rachel Pries tried to rebuild the innings. Together, they added 44 runs for the third wicket before Priest got out to Emma King. She made 23 from 64 balls. Graham fell shortly after to Bolton for a 54-ball 29. Naomi Stalenberg and Phillips joined hands in the middle.



Stalenberg was the aggressor in the partnership, making 27 runs from 32 balls before getting out to Cleary. With Emma Thompson and Emily Smith getting out in quick succession, Phillips held fort at the other end. At one point, the Tigers were down to 144 for seven. Walking in to bat at number nine, Vakarewa helped Phillips revive the innings with a counterattack. She smashed 27 from 24 balls, followed by Amy Smith, who, too, scored a quickfire 19.



Phillips remained unbeaten till the end with 49 runs from 70 balls and helped the Tigers finish at 215 for nine after 50 overs. King and Bolton picked three wickets each, giving away 46 runs in their respective quota of ten overs.



Brief Scores:



Tasmania Tigers: 215/9 in 50 overs (Meg Phillips 49, Nicole Bolton 3/46) beat Western Australia: 214/8 in 50 overs (Nicole Bolton 71, Amy Smith 4/27) by one run. POTM: Nicole Bolton