Bowlers, Courtney Webb hand Scorpions eight-wicket win against Fire

A clinical bowling performance followed by a counterattacking half-century from Courtney Webb helped South Australian Scorpions trump Queensland Fire by eight wickets in the rain-affected Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) fixture on Saturday (February 20).



Chasing less than four runs per over, Tahlia McGrath and Emma de Broughe provided a steady start for the Scorpions. They added 47 runs in 69 balls before the latter was caught short of crease for 35-ball 10. Josie Dooley joined McGrath in the middle, and the duo was in no hurry to accelerate the run-rate.



Although McGrath got out to Grace Harris for a 55-ball 44, Webb, who walked in at no.4, ensured that they do not lose another wicket. She launched a counterattack smashing 51 runs from 49 balls. With Dooley, Webb added 108 runs and helped the Scorpions win with 12.3 overs to spare.



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Earlier, after put into bat by the Scorpions, the Fire got off to a slow start. With Beth Mooney struggling to get going, Georgia Voll was the first wicket to fall as she got out to Darcie Brown for 23-ball 21. Mooney, too, followed suit for three runs from 11 balls.



Joined by Harris, Georgia Redmayne tried to build a partnership. Together, they added 36 runs before Samantha Betts dismissed the former for a 26-ball 16. Jessica Jonassen and Redmayne tried to keep the innings going. They put on a fifty-run partnership for the fourth wicket.



Just when it seemed like they were gaining some momentum, Redmayne got out to McGrath for 38 runs. With Jonassen getting out for 39 runs, the Fire batters crumbled. Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, and Elli Johnson all fell cheaply. Eventually, they were all out for 170 in 39.3 overs. Amanda-Jade Wellington was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 34 runs in her eight overs.



Brief Scores:



South Australian Scorpions 172/2 in 37.3 overs (Courtney Webb 51; Grace Harris1/35) beat Queensland Fire 170 all out in 39.3 overs (Jessica Jonassen 39; Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/34) by eight wickets.