Naomi Stalenberg, bowlers headline Tasmania Tiger's four-wicket win against Scorpions

A brilliant 66-ball 47 from Naomi Stalenberg and the all-round performance of Nicola Carey helped the Tasmania Tigers defeat South Australia Scorpions by four wickets in the Women’s National Cricket League on Friday (February 5).



Chasing less than fours an over, the Tigers got off to a horror start as they lost both their openers Rachel Priest and Sasha Moloney early. After ten overs, they were stuttering at 19 for two. Nicola Carey and Heather Graham joined hands to revive the chase.



Together, they added 45 runs before Carey was caught in a mix-up and was run-out by Jemma Barsby for 20 runs from 51 balls. Stalenberg walked in at number five and built a partnership with Graham. They added 42 runs in 65 balls for the fourth wicket.



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Megan Schutt was brought back into the attack to break the partnership, and she did not disappoint. Graham got out to Schutt for a 62-ball 31. Stalenberg, at the other end, kept the innings going. She added 43 runs with Corinne Hall before falling three runs short of her half-century. She made 47 runs in 66 balls and took the Tigers closer to the target.



Hall remained not out till the end with a 35-ball 31 and ensured a four-wicket victory for the Tigers. Schutt was the only limelight for the Scorpions as she picked up three crucial wickets giving away just 26 runs in her ten overs.



Earlier, Tahlia McGrath and Bridget Patterson provided the Scorpions ha steady start as the duo added 47 runs for the first wicket. They kept the scoreboard moving with singles and doubles while picking up occasional boundaries before Sam Bates dismissed McGrath for 20 from 33 balls.



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Carey followed it up with the wicket of Josie Dooley shortly after. Joined by Courtney Webb, Patterson tried to build a partnership. However, it did not last long as Moloney got rid of Webb for a 35-ball 20. The Scorpions slipped down further as they lost two more wickets in quick succession.



While McGrath was run-out by graham for 34 from 71 balls, Moloney removed Barsby at the other end. They were struggling at 91 for five. Although Amanda-Jade Wellington played a short stint, she, too, fell to Moloney. With Carey dismissing Annie O’Neil, the Scorpions were further down to 125 for seven.



A fighting 43-ball 32 from Tegan McPharlin and cameos from Samantha Bates and Megan Schutt helped the Scorpions get past the 150-run mark. However, Carey and Graham ensured that the innings did not last long as they were all out for 174 in 47.3 overs. Moloney and Carey were the picks of the bowlers with three wickets each.



Brief Scores:



Tasmania Tigers: 175/6 in 45.5 overs (Naomi Stalenberg 47, Megan Schutt 3/26) beat South Australia Scorpions: 174/10 in 47.3 overs (Tegan McPharlin 43, Sasha Moloney 3/23) by four wickets. POTM: Naomi Stalenberg