Madeline Penna's magnificent century headlines ACT Meteors' big win in WNCL

Madeline Penna’s maiden List A century helped ACT Meteors register a 64-run win as Western Australia succumbed to their fifth defeat in as many matches in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) 2020-21 at the WACA in Perth on Friday (March 12).



Having elected to bat, Meteors started strongly with Katie Mack smashing three boundaries in the first over. She put on 49-run for the opening wicket with Erica Kershaw before Emma King’s twin strikes reduced them to 78 for 3 in 19.3 overs.



Penna, walking in at five, hit her first boundary when she pulled Sheldyn Cooper for four through backward square-leg. She took special liking to Taneale Peschel as she smashed the pacer for four boundaries during her 62 runs stand with Erica Osborne. Once Emma dismissed Osborne for 42, they suffered another mini-collapse losing three wickets for ten runs to reduce themselves to 150 for 6 in 37.3 overs.



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However, Penna and Nicola Hancock counter-attacked and put on an unbeaten 125-run partnership for the seventh wicket in just 12.3 overs. At the back end, the pair again took a toll on Peschel as she went for 75 runs from her eight overs. Penna brought up her maiden List A hundred from 89 balls with boundary off Piepa Cleary in the 48^th over. She eventually remained not out on 118 from 100 balls in a knock that included 17 fours and a six. Hancock’s blistering unbeaten 48-run innings came from 30 balls.



For Western Australia, Emma finished with impressive figures of 3 for 26 from her ten overs.



In reply, Only Chloe Piparo and Mathilda Carmichael scored over 30 runs in their innings as wickets fell at regular intervals. The pair added 60 runs before Carmichael was dismissed by Angela Reakes. From 125 for 5, Piparo took the score to 200 in the company of Cleary and Alana King before Osborne accounted for her when she was on 74.



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Once Piparo was dismissed, Western Australia were bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs to give Meteors a big win. For Meteors, Osborne was the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 32 from her ten overs, while Hancock finished with figures of 2 for 37.



Brief Scores: ACT Meteors 275/6 in 50 overs (Madeline Penna 118*, Nicola Hancock 48*; Emma King 3/26) beat Western Australia 211/10 in 45.2 overs (Chloe Piparo 74, Mathilda Carmichael 33; Erin Osborne 3/32, Nicola Hancock 2/37) by 64 runs. POTM: Madeline Penna