WNCL: Meteors stay unbeaten while Vics beat Breakers

Victoria v NSW Breakers

Makinley Blows struck an impressive century to steer Victoria to a seven-wicket win over the NSW Breakers on the final day of the first round of the WNCL season.

Chasing a target of 186 set by the Breakers, opener Blows and No.3 Annabel Sutherland batted together for more than 41 overs, putting 181 runs on the scoreboard to all-but secure victory for their state.

SCORECARD: Victoria defeat NSW Breakers by 7 wickets

Elyse Villani, who was set the challenge by Australia coach Matthew Mott to use this opening round of domestic cricket to force her way back into the national squad, was dismissed by Rene Farrell off the very first delivery of the innings.

Victoria’s win was set up by an impressive performance with the ball in the first innings after the Breakers won the toss and elected to bat.

Sutherland took 3-27 from her nine overs before she backed it up with a knock of 63.

Sutherland captured the wicket of stand-in skipper Lisa Griffiths for a duck in the third over, while recent Victorian debutante Courtney Neale removed Tahlia Wilson, the hero of the Breakers’ win on Sunday, also for a duck in the fourth over.

In trouble at 2-0 after 3.2 overs, Naomi Stalenberg (53) and Rachael Trenaman (52) dug in to steady the ship for the Breakers.

They combined for a 115-run partnership before leg-spinners Kristen Beams and Alana King combined to capture both key wickets in consecutive overs, leaving the Breakers 4-115 in the 31st.

The 16-year-old Phoebe Litchfield, who recently debuted for the Breakers, added 17 runs batting at No.5 before Molly Strano and Sutherland rapidly took care of the Breakers middle order.

A late cameo from the experienced Sarah Aley saw a further 31 runs added to the scoreboard but the Breakers were unable to bat out their overs, all out for 186 in the final over.

The win is Victoria’s first of the WNCL season after falling short against ACT on Sunday.

SA Scorpions v ACT Meteors

An incredible six-wicket haul spell for Amy Yates and brilliant half-century for in-form batter Katie Mack helped secure a second straight win for the ACT Meteors, leading the chase against the SA Scorpions to complete a three-wicket win at Karen Rolton Oval.

Mack, who struck 63 in ACT’s win against Victoria on Saturday, brought the same intent to the crease today, top-scoring with 83 off 125 balls.

SCORECARD: ACT Meteors defeat SA Scorpions by 3 wickets

In pursuit of South Australia’s 203, an opening partnership of 76 runs between Mack and Claire Koski (31) got the visitors off to a promising start.

Erica Kershaw came to the crease in the 32nd over to complete the chase for the Scorpions, finishing unbeaten on 45.

Earlier, South Australian batter Bridget Patterson, who was similarly impressive earlier in the round with a knock of 78 not out, again had the home side off to a strong start.

Patterson scored 81 today and put on a 129-run opening stand with Scorpions captain Tahlia McGrath after she had won the toss and chose to bat.

Seamer Amy Yates then took complete control of the innings, claiming the wickets of the top four Scorpions batters.

Yates finished with an incredible 6-33 from her ten overs to help restrict the Scorpions to a total of 203.

The ACT Meteors have won both of their WNCL first round matches.