Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania record wins in the WNCL

Six three-fers, seven scores in the forties and three half centuries – these were on show in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) on Tuesday (January 7) as Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania registered wins.

It was a positive Victorian debut and successful return from injury for Ellyse Perry who scored a 32-ball 24 and also picked up two wickets to contribute to her team’s win over Western Australia. Sophie Molineux, after taking a break during the Women’s Big Bash League, returned to open the batting with Elyse Villani. She fell three short of fifty as the first Victorian wicket fell on the score of 101.

Although Meg Lanning (12) fell soon after, Villani and Perry strung together 53 runs before the latter fell. Villani carried on before being Emma King’s (3/46) third victim. The batter fell on 99, taking 127 balls in the process. She hit four fours and a six in her knock. Annabel Sutherland then applied the finishing touches with a 37-ball 43 before being run out on the last ball. Victoria had put 259 for seven.

Western Australia’s reply didn’t get to the best of starts as they lost Nicole Bolton (4) and Heather Graham (0) pretty quickly. Chloe Piparo and Sophie Devine then resurrected the innings with a 90-run association. Piparo hit a fluent half century, finishing on 60 off 76 balls and Devine made 41 – both of them being dismissed by Molineux, who finished with two wickets.

The rest of Western Australia’s batting flopped as they were bowled out for 142 to go down by 117 runs. Her cameo with the bat notwithstanding, Sutherland picked up three wickets (3/21), as did Georgia Wareham (3/30).

In another match in Sydney, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) were defeated, thanks to a combined bowling effort by Queensland. Opting to bowl, the only resistance that Queensland faced was from the 63-run partnership between Anna Lanning (27) and Erin Osborne (37). It was a sorry batting card for ACT, against whom Grace Harris, Jemma Barsby and Sammy-Jo Johnson picked up two wickets each while Delissa Kimmince, Jess Jonassen and Georgia Prestwidge returned with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 152 for a win, Queensland found themselves in a spot of bother, losing wickets at the top quickly to be placed at five for 92. But Jonassen and Johnson ensured that they wouldn’t have to face further hiccups. Jonassen was unbeaten on 45 off 51 balls while Johnson gave her company till the win to finish unconquered on a 26-ball 40. The duo’s partnership was worth 65.

At the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, riding on Meg Phillips and Maisy Gibson’s three-fers and a half century by Nicola Carey, Tasmania came up victorious against South Australia by five wickets.

The 81-run stand between Carey (64) and Emma Thompson-Flint (33) was the backbone of Tasmania’s run-chase. They got together after Hollie Armitage (14) and Phillips (14) fell pretty early. Thompson-Flint fell when the score read 119. But Corinne Hall stayed unbeaten on 23 to take the side home. South Australia’s captain Megan Schutt picked up three wickets for just 21 runs.

Earlier, Tahlia McGrath (23) and Bridget Patterson forged a 65-run alliance for the opening wicket. Patterson made 41 while Suzie Bates hit 40. Despite that, South Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 19 runs to fold up for 172.

Brief Scores:

Victoria 259/7 in 50 overs (Elyse Villani 99, Sophie Molineux 47, Annabel Sutherland 43; Emma King 3/46) beat Western Australia 142 all out in 40.5 overs (Chloe Piparo 60, Sophie Devine 41; Annabel Sutherland 3/21, Georgia Wareham 3/30) by 117 runs. PoTM: Elyse Villani.

Australian Capital Territory 151 all out in 45 overs (Erin Osborne 37, Anna Lanning 27; Grace Harris 2/23, Jemma Barsby 2/23, Sammy Jo-Johnson 2/31) lost to Queensland 157/5 in 24.1 overs (Jess Jonassen 45*, Sammy-Jo Johnson 40*) by five wickets. PoTM: Sammy-Jo Johnson

South Australia 172 all out 46 overs (Bridget Patterson 41, Suzie Bates 40; Meg Phillips 3/17, 3/42) lost to Tasmania 173/5 in 38 overs (Nicola Carey 64, Emma Thompson-Flint 33; Megan Schutt 3/21) by five wickets. PoTM: Nicola Carey.