Queensland fire with bat and ball for first win

Queensland dominated with bat and ball to score a convincing 101-run win over Tasmania to claim their first victory of the WNCL season.

After falling short in a run-chase against Western Australia on Saturday, Queensland captain Kirby Short elected to bat first at Souths Cricket Ground in Brisbane.

SCORECARD: Queensland defeat Tasmania by 101 runs

Short, opening the batting alongside Grace Harris managed a partnership of 52 runs to set the tone for an innings that saw plenty of contributions across the board.

Laura Harris, Grace’s elder sister, came to the crease at number three to score a quickfire 51 from 30 balls that included nine boundaries.

Georgia Redmayne’s 20 (50 balls) and Mikayla Hinkely’s 17 (42) kept the scoreboard ticking along before a late cameo from number seven batter Josie Dooley saw a further 45 runs added to Queensland’s total.

While wickets fell at regular intervals throughout the innings, the Tasmanian bowlers were unable to contain the run rate with Queensland finishing all out for 240 with a ball remaining.

Queensland continued their momentum into the second innings, with Georgia Prestwidge and Grace Harris combining to tear through Tasmania’s top order.

After losing the wickets of opener Stefanie Daffara (20) and first drop Corinne Hall (2) inside the first five overs, things didn’t improve for Tasmania with the next three batters dismissed for single figures.

In trouble at 5-55 after 16 overs, Brooke Hepburn’s patient 25 (48) followed by a powerful 22 (17) for Erin Fazackerley showed some resistance to lift the Tasmanians past the hundred mark.

Grace Harris captured the wickets of both Hepburn and Fazackerely to stop the flow of runs and the tail was cleaned up in quick succession, with Tasmania falling short by 101 runs.

Prestwidge (4-41 from 10 overs) and Harris (3-35 off 10) were the most prolific wicket-takers for Queensland, while Sammy-Jo Johnson was the most economical, finishing with 2-17.