Ferling's three-fer, Molineux, Bolton's allround efforts headline WNCL

Holly Ferling, Sophie Molineux and Nicole Bolton starred in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia's respective victories over Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Tasmania and South Australia in the Women's National Cricket League on Tuesday (January 21).

In the first match at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Queensland thumped ACT by 60 runs. In a low-scoring game, Queensland Fire bowlers led from the front with Ferling picking up three wickets to help bowl ACT out for just 119 runs.

Opting to bat first, Queensland Fire got off to a rocky start as they lost their top three wickets for 61 runs inside 10 overs. Beth Mooney (25), Kirby Short (six) and Laura Harris (22) were the wickets ACT managed to get. It looked all over when ACT had Queensland on the mat with the scoreboard reading 107 for the loss of eight wickets in just the 28th over.

Jemma Barsby and Delissa Kimmince though had other ideas. The duo strung a vital 35-run stand for the ninth wicket which helped Queensland Fire reach 179. Nicola Hancock and Maitlan Brown were the pick of the bowlers for ACT with three wickets each.

Chasing below-par total ACT got off to a horrible start as they lost their top five wickets for just 44 runs. Apart from Claire Koski (44), no batter could get going and post a substantial score on board. ACT were eventually bundled out for just 119 with more than 15 overs to spare. Apart from Ferling, Kimmince picked up two wickets as well.

In the second match in Hobart, Victoria cruised to a five-wicket victory against Tasmanian Tigers, thanks to Molineux's allround efforts. She first picked up three wickets to restrict Tasmanian Tigers to 198 and then scored 80 runs.

Sent in to bat Tasmanian Tigers had a solid start as their openers, Hollie Armitage and Meg Phillips put on 70 runs for the opening wicket. Victoria struck by removing both openers for 35 and 30 runs respectively. From then on their bowlers tightened the screws and kept chipping away with wickets. Only Nicola Carey with a fighting 73 runs held one end up. Her efforts meant the Tigers finished on 198.

In pursuit of 199, Victoria too got off to a good start as Elyse Villani and Molineux put on 91 runs. Tasmanian Tigers finally broke through when they had Villani for 44. Soon Meg Lanning (four) walked back cheaply as well. Ellyse Perry, the experienced campaigner, though ensured there was no further drama. She added 57 with Molineux before remaining unbeaten on 44 to take her team home with four overs to spare.

In the final match of the day, Western Australia downed South Australian Scorpions by 102 runs. Nicole Bolton starred with the bat for Western Australia with a match-winning contribution of 94 runs. She was equally good with the ball picking up three wickets to bundle South Australia for just 157.

Western Australia had a steady start upfront as their openers Chloe Piparo and Ashley Day put on 71 runs for the first wicket after being sent in. Amanda-Jade Wellington removed them for 42 and 45 respectively and gave South Australia an opening. Bolton, walking in at four, attacked the bowlers and ensuring the start that Western Australia got didn't go waste. She took just 89 balls for her knock, hitting 11 fours in the process, helping Western Australia to 259. Tahlia McGrath and Wellington picked up four wickets each for South Australia.

Chasing a stiff target, South Australia got off to the worst possible start as they lost their top five batters for just 86 runs. Apart from Bridget Patterson (23) and Wellington (32) none of the others managed to hang around. South Australia were eventually bowled out for 157 with nine overs remaining.

Brief scores:

Queensland Fire 179/10 in 48.3 overs (Jemma Barsby 31*, Delissa Kimmince 27; Maitlan Brown 3-27, Nicola Hancock 3-46 ) beat Australian Capital Territory 119/10 33.2 overs (Claire Koski 44, Erin Osborne 17; Holly Ferling 3-28, Delissa Kimmince 2-12). by 60 runs. PoTM: Holly Ferling.

Tasmanian Tigers 198/10 49.5 overs (Nicola Carey 73, Hollie Armitage 35; Sophie Molineux 3-33, Molly Strano 2-36) lost to Victoria 202/5 in 46 overs (Sophie Molineux 80, Ellyse Perry 44*; Meg Phillips 3-26 Belinda Vakarewa 1-30) by five wickets. PoTM: Sophie Molineux.

Western Australia 259/9 in 50 overs (Nicole Bolton 94, Ashley Day 45; Amanda Wellington 4-31, Tahlia McGrath 4-40) beat South Australian Scorpions 157/10 in 40.3 overs (Amanda Wellington 32, Bridget Patterson 23; Nicole Bolton 3-26, Emma King 2-26) by 102 runs. PoTM: Nicole Bolton.