Internationals star in WNCL round one

Victoria and Queensland have emerged as the form teams following the opening round of the Women's National Cricket League last weekend.

The Konica Minolta Queensland Fire knocked off a star-studded NSW Breakers line-up, having already romped to a six-wicket victory over Tasmania and tied with reigning premiers South Australia.

The Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit finished undefeated after clashes with Western Fury and the ACT Meteors at the WACA, thanks largely to the excellent form of top-order batters Meg Lanning and Sarah Elliot.

Quick single: Stars shine in WNCL clashes

The Lendlease Breakers – who were without superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry, who was rested ahead of next month's ODIs against South Africa – edged out the Breezair SA Scorpions in a replay of last summer's final before thrashing Tasmania by 207 runs, but ended the weekend with defeat to the Fire.

South Australia ended the weekend on a winning note, defeating Tasmania by 51 runs, the ACT Meteors edged out WA by 25 runs, while the Alcohol.Think Again Fury and Tasmania ended the weekend without a win.

RESULTS: View all results from round one of the WNCL here

Southern Stars on song

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars enjoyed their first domestic hit-out of the summer at the weekend as they prepare for their five-match ODI series against South Africa next month.

There was plenty for fans to get excited about, with Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Alex Blackwell all scoring centuries, while Australia's bowlers were in the thick of the action as well.

The international players have one more weekend of matches at the end of the month, before the first game against the Proteas on November 18. 

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Meg Lanning (VIC)

The Australian skipper couldn't have asked to start the summer in better fashion, notching an unbeaten century against the Meteors before following up with a half-century against WA.

Her VicSpirit and Aussie teammate Kristen Beams also looks to have maintained her brilliant form from last month's tour of Sri Lanka, taking a miserly 2-21 against the Fury.

Alyssa Healy (NSW)

A stunning 159 by Alyssa Healy helped NSW Breakers crush Tasmanian Roar by 207 runs at the Gabba on Friday.

The opener thrashed 27 fours and a six in her 115-ball knock that helped lift the Breakers to a daunting 3-377 off their 50 overs.

Wicketkeeper Healy's knock fell short of Lanning's domestic record of 175 and the Breakers were not in sight of Victoria's whopping 3-418 mark – both set in 2012.

Grace Harris (QLD)

Harris showed form with bat and ball on the weekend, snaring 2-9 from 10 overs against Tasmania to help Queensland to victory, before smashing 78 runs from just 49 balls against New South Wales.

Harris's international teammates also had a strong weekend for the Fire – Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney both scored half-centuries against Tasmania, while Jonassen snared 2-14 in the same match, capping off a player-of-the-match performance.

 

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Rene Farrell (NSW)

Farrell was outstanding in the Breakers' narrow one-wicket win over South Australia on Thursday, taking 3-33 from her 10-over spell, and backed it up with 0-20 against Tasmania.

Alex Blackwell (NSW)

Australia's vice-captain should be in for another very productive summer if last weekend was anything to go by. Blackwell started off with 70 against South Australia on Thursday, backing it up with a 68-ball 79 against Tasmania, and capping it all off with a speedy unbeaten century against Queensland on Sunday.

Erin Osborne (ACT)

The off-spinner was in the wickets for the ACT in their win over Western Australia, finishing with 3-26 from a very fine 10-over spell.

 

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Elyse Villani (WA)

Western Australia's new captain didn't have an ideal start to her reign, dismissed for 15 by the Meteors, but followed up with an impressive 81 against the VicSpirit on Sunday.

Ones to watch

Charlotte Edwards (SA)

The former England captain had a productive start for her new state – after being dismissed for 35 against the Breakers, she bounced back with scores of 57 and 100 in the matches that followed.

 

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Natasha Farrant (WA)

The Western Fury recruited this exciting 20-year-old England quick on the eve of the season start and she made an immediate impression, taking 3-36 on debut against the Meteors.

Delissa Kimmince (QLD)

The former Australia allrounder had a big weekend for the Fire, taking 3-37 against South Australia and blasting 93no from just 62 balls against NSW.

Brooke Hepburn (TAS)

In a disappointing weekend for Tasmania, Hepburn provided one major highlight. Her 5-39 against South Australia was the first five-wicket haul taken by a Tasmanian player in the WNCL.