Queensland fire up for first WNCL win

A five-wicket haul from Queensland Fire’s Jess Jonassen and a 114-run partnership between Mikayla Hinkley (72) and Grace Harris (64) guided the Queensland Fire to their opening win of the WNCL by 66 runs.

Two wickets to Queensland’s Georgia Prestwidge and two to Meagan Dixon, combined with Jonassen's 5-24, sealed Tasmania’s fate, as the Fire defended their total of 8-265.

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Tasmanian allrounder Nicola Carey was her side’s shining light, striking 74 off 95 deliveries, but her efforts were not enough to stop Queensland’s bowling attack from taking hold.

Tasmania allrounder Heather Graham also stood out on a tricky wicket, taking 3-42, supported by late wickets from Maisy Gibson (1-34) and Molly Strano’s first in Tasmania colours (1-43).

New Tasmania captain Elyse Villani elected to bowl first, but the home side made a wobbly start with Carey bowling a 10-ball over firs-up, headlined by five wides.

In total, the Tigers gave away 38 extras.

It was Belinda Vakarewa who had the early breakthrough, removing dangerous Queensland opener Georgia Redmayne for five in the third over.

With no Beth Mooney for Queensland - the Australia opener taking an extended break following the WBBL - Charli Knott and Georgia Voll then steadied, before Knott was caught for 24 in the 13th over, while a partnership of 47 off 52 from Voll and new batter Harris boosted the Fire’s confidence.

The key wicket of Voll (40 off 60) fell in the 22nd over as she was caught by Sasha Moloney.

Queensland regained momentum when Harris and Hinkley combined, attacking the Tigers’ bowlers to produce a 114-run partnership off 134 deliveries, lasting until the 44^th over.

Despite the fall of Harris (64 off 84) and Jess Jonassen (12 off 10), Hinkley responded with aggression, piling on 72 runs off 94 balls, including seven boundaries, to help Tasmania to a total of 8-265.

Queensland wasted no time stamping their dominance with ball in hand, removing Villani (7) in the second over.

Rachel Priest and Carey combined for an important partnership of 54 of 68, before Priest fell for 26.

The floodgates opened when Graham fell for one in the 15th over, and Naomi Stalenberg followed suit, departing for 18 in the 23rd over, leaving Tasmania in trouble at 4-97.

Strano (19 off 27) was bowled by Harris in the 30^th over, breaking the 29-run partnership with Carey. Emma Mannix-Greeves was active at the crease, but was caught on seven, costing the Tigers their sixth wicket.

Carey was a standout with the bat for the Tigers in the back end of their innings, producing 74 off 95 including five boundaries, but it was not enough for Tasmania to overcome the reigning champions, with Jonassen taking her fifth wicket to end the game with six overs to spare.