Women's Cricket in Australia - CBA WNCL 2007/8

News

From www.cricket.com.au

19 January, 2008: Rain gifts NSW title

The New South Wales Breakers have been crowned the Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League champions without having to bowl or face a delivery.

Rain washed out the final between the Breakers and the Southern Scorpions at the Sydney Cricket Ground in what turned out to be an anti-climactic finish to the season.

New South Wales was handed the championship because they finished on top of the Commonwealth Bank WNCL table at season's end.

It was a cruel blow for the Scorpions whose bid for a first-ever Commonwealth Bank WNCL title was over before it even began.

The Breakers' stranglehold on the competition continues to tighten with their latest triumph serving as their 10th in the past 12 seasons.

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13 January, 2008: Vics stun Scorpions

Victoria has dragged itself off the bottom of the Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League table with a four-wicket win over South Australia on Sunday.

The Spirit chased down SA's imposing 7-222, reaching the target with 14 balls to spare in Adelaide.

While disappointed with the defeat, South Australia can make up for it when it tackles New South Wales in the final next Sunday.

The home team - led by skipper Karen Rolton (81) - started brightly and always looked on course for a hefty total.

The captain struck nine fours and the only six of the match to top score.

Four of the Scorpions top five passed 40 but opening bowler Clea Smith (3-43) kept her figures tidy and snared the vital scalp of Rolton to slow the scoring somewhat late in the innings.

In reply, two early wickets had the visitors in trouble at 2-32 with prolific scorer Melanie Jones back (17) in the sheds.

However, some steady work from Sarah Edwards (37) and Kelly Applebee (38) put Victorian on track as the pair took the tally beyond 100 in the 25th over.

They added 74 in a 17-over stand before both fell in quick succession.

Teenagaer Emma Inglis strode to the crease and, along with Jodi Dean, put the target within reach with 10 overs left.

Dean was dismissed for 26 after an 85-run partnership with Inglis but the 19-year-old got Victoria across the line with a vital and unbeaten 46.

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11 January, 2008: Spirit feels Scorpion's sting

A superb all round performance from Shelley Nitschke has helped South Australia claim a spot in the WNCL final through a 140-run victory over Victoria at the Adelaide Oval.

Nitschke led from the front, scoring 74 from 95 balls before taking 2-31 as the Scorpions bowled out the Vics for 121 after making 6-261 during the first innings on Friday afternoon.

From the outset, the Scorpions hardly looked troubled against Victoria's attack as Nitschke and Julie Woerner (46) produced a 113-run opening stand to set up the commanding win.

However, even with Woerner back in the pavilion after being stumped by Emma Inglis off Pauwels' bowling, SA skipper Karen Rolton came to the crease, blasting 56 from 59 balls as the Scorpions romped to 261.

Victoria started its chase well through Melanie Jones (11) and Elyse Vialani, who top scored for the Spirit with 51. However it was all downhill for the Vics after Jones was caught by Fiona McDonald off Nitschke's bowling with the score on 42.

From then on, Victoria lost its last nine wickets for nine wickets as Kris Britt claimed three wickets for 14 runs off 4.2 overs as wicketkeeper Jodie Dean pitched in with three stumpings.

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11 January, 2008: Ebsary turns it on

A star turn from Lauren Ebsary has helped Western Australia produce a convincing 104-run victory over Queensland in their WNCL clash at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

Former South Australian Ebsary produced the goods for her new state scoring 72 from 81 balls opening the batting before returning 4-46 from her eight overs as Queensland was bowled out for 123 in response to WA's 227.

Queensland had WA on the ropes early in the innings, though, as Rikki-Lee Rimmington (2-31) had a hand in taking three early wickets.

Nicole Bolton (four) was the first out, caught by Jodie Purves off Rimmington's bowler as Rimmington then ran out Angele

Gray for zero before having Jenny Wallace caught by Queensland skipper Melissa Bulow, leaving the Fury at 3-15 in the fifth over.

But, from then on, Ebsary and Renee Chappell (34) steadied the ship with a 98-run fourth-wicket partnership before Lauren Stammers upped the ante at the end, scoring 59 from 79 balls as the Fury set a formidable 227.

The Fire started their chase well but lost Kasee Marxsen in the fifth over when she was caught in front by Ebsary for one.

Purves was the next to go when she was caught by Wallace off Amanda Williams' (1-10) bowling while Ebsary then claimed the scalp of danger-woman Bulow for 24 when she was caught by WA skipper Avril Fahey.

Bulow's score proved to be the best of the match for Queensland, with only bowler Kirsten Pike coming close, adding 17 at the death as the hosts were overwhelmed by a solid performance from the visitors.

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Vic v SA & Qld v WA Milestones etc:

Batting PB: Lauren Ebsary (W) 72, Emma Inglis (V) 46*, Delissa Kimmince (Q) 19*, Kirby Short (Q) 14, Elyse Villani (V) 51, Amanda Williams (W), 21*

Bowling PB: Lauren Ebsary (W) 4/46, Cara Fiebig (S) 2/20, Holly Hyder (W) 2/41, Annie Maloney (V) 2/48

Most WNCL matches: 113 Melanie Jones (V)

100 Career Matches: Karen Rolton (S)

100 WNCL Matches: Jane Franklin (V)

Most WNCL Dismissals in a season: 18 (10c/8s) Alicia Dean (S)

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5 January, 2008: Fury break drought

Western Australia Fury has scored a long-awaited win with a low-scoring triumph over New South Wales Breakers in the Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League on Saturday.

The Fury, batting first, were bowled out for 141 in just 35.2 of their allotted 50 overs, a target which looked well within the table topping visitors.

However, some tight bowling and superb fielding brought about the Breakers' first loss of the season as they were dismissed for just 104 in reply.

Renee Chappell was the star with the ball for the winners, her 4-15 from 10 tight overs driving the Fury to their first win since December 2005.

New South Wales looked to be cruising towards victory at 2-70 after 17 overs, but lost its last eight wickets for only 34 runs.

Top scorers Leonie Coleman (23) and skipper Lisa Sthalekar fell in quick succession, beginning the woe for the Breakers.

Earlier, a half century to Jenny Wallace provided the backbone of the Fury innings.

Wallace clubbed 11 boundaries in her 54 which came from just 49 balls.

Lauren Ebsary provided good support with 30.

Charlotte Anneveld snared 3-21 to restrict the Fury, while an inspired spell of 3-10 from 4.2 overs by Leah Poulton wrapped up the innings.

In Saturday's second match, at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, Queensland Fire completed a clean sweep of its two-match series against Victoria Spirit.

The Fire followed up their thrilling win at the same venue on Friday with a comfortable seven-wicket triumph.

Chasing the home team's testing 8-192 from 50 overs, Kasee Marxsen carved out a vital 86, which included 12 boundaries, to guide the Fire home.

She and fellow opener Melissa Bulow (61) shared a stand of 118 which got the Queenslanders off on the right foot.

The Vics used nine bowlers in an attempt to slow Queensland, but could not prevent the Fire reaching the target with seven wickets in hand in the 47th over.

The two teams will play a Twenty20 match at the MCG on Sunday as a curtain-raiser to the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash contest between Victoria and New South Wales.

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4 January, 2008: Vics beaten, Fury fall short

Queensland Fire have won a thrilling Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League clash against the Victoria Spirit by just four runs at St Kilda Cricket Ground on Friday.

The visitors batted first and made 8-172 from their 50 overs thanks to a superb 85 not out from 142 balls to opener Jodie Purves, before knocking over the Spirit for 168 in 49.2 overs as Jude Coleman led the way with 3-25 from 10 overs.

Queensland began poorly with the loss of Melissa Bulow at the start of the third over without a run on the board, but Purves and Kasee Marxsen added 50 for the second wicket.

Marxsen's dismissal for 32 from 39 balls to Kristen Beams sparked a collapse of 4-14 though, Beams picking up three of the four wickets to fall on the way to a brilliant 3-21 from 10 overs.

While Purves kept the score ticking over at one end, wickets continued to fall at the other as Rachael Haynes grabbed 2-6 from two overs, before Purves found an ally in teenage debutant Jo-Ann Verrall, who scored an unbeaten 18 from 37 balls as they added 61 for the ninth wicket.

After the opening pair put on 32 from the first 10 overs, the hosts lost Haynes for nine to Verrall (1-16 from six), but Melanie Jones and No.3 Sarah Edwards put on 60 as they pushed the score towards three figures and reduced the target to under 80.

Jones fell for 45 from 98 balls but Edwards and Kelly Applebee had their team on track at 2-116 in the 33rd over before a disastrous slump of 3-0 turned the match on its head.

Despite continuing to lose wickets the Spirit still seemed set for victory when Clea Smith (12no) and Jodie Dean (11) added 21 from 19 for the eighth wicket but when Dean fell the end came quickly as the final three wickets fell for only six runs.

Meanwhile, the Perth Fury narrowly missed out on a breakthrough win when they were downed in a high-scoring affair against New South Wales.

The Fury reached 7-223 from their 50 overs, a bold reply to the Breakers total of 231.

Kate Blackwell spearheaded the innings for the winners with an unconquered 51 from only 58 deliveries.

The New South Wales' innings was slowed somewhat by three run outs, but the visitors always looked to have enough runs on the board.

When Western Australia lost an early wicket to be 1-12, its task looked impossible.

However, some smart batting from the middle order, headlined by a stoic and unbeaten 44 by captain Avril Fahey gave the Fury a chance.

But 17 runs from the last over proved too many to get, New South Wales securing all four points.

The Western Australian outfit has not won a game in this competition since December 2005.

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Vic v QLD & WA v NSW Milestones etc:

Debut: Emma Biss (W), Megan Compston (V), Jo-Ann Verall (Q), Ellyse Villani (V)

Batting PB: Lisa Kushert (N) 11, Jodie Purves (Q) 85*, Jenny Wallace (W) 54

Bowling PB: Kristen Beams (V) 3/21, Renee Chappell (W)4/15, Rachel Haynes (V) 2/6, Holly Hyder (W) 1/29, Lisa Kuschert (N) 1/36, Leah Poulton (N) 3/10, Amanda Williams (W) 2/28

(Equal) Most WNCL matches: 111 Melanie Jones (V)

50 WNCL/Career matches: Renee Chappell (W)

1000 WNCL/Career runs: Kelly Applebee (V), Jodie Purves (Q)

3000 WNCL runs: Melanie Jones (4th player)

Record 6th wicket WNCL partnership: 61* Jodie Purves & Jo-Ann Verrall Qld v Vic 4/1/08

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23 December, 2007: Breakers remain unbeaten

An unbeaten 41 from player of the match Alyssa Healy has seen the New South Wales Breakers score a thrilling two-wicket victory against the Queensland Fire on Sunday.

The second game of their double header at the SCG was a tense affair, but Healy kept her cool to drag the home team across the line.

Set 171 to win, the Breakers lost early wickets to be 3-20 after 10 overs.

Some hard work restored the innings but when Healy came to the crease at 5-99 there was still plenty to do.

Sixteen runs after her entrance Healy watched Breakers' captain Lisa Sthalekar depart for 41.

A 26-run seventh wicket partnership between Healy and Sarah Andrews got the home team within striking distance before Andrews (13) and Sarah Aley (four) were dismissed.

Rookies Healy and Lisa Kuschert held their nerve, putting on 21 runs to see the Breakers to their sixth victory of the season in as many matches.

"It was very exciting. I am still shaking," the 17-year-old Healy said moments after hitting the winning run.

"I just kept looking at the scoreboard to figure out how many runs we needed, then worked on scoring singles and hitting the bad ball when it came. I was nervous but I just kept running."

Earlier in the day, Queensland made a flying start to its innings with opener and captain Melissa Bulow hitting 23 from 26 balls.

When she fell, lbw in Rene Farrell's first over, Jodie Purves took up the charge along with Megan White.

They put on a steady 70-run partnership for the third wicket before White was brilliantly caught and bowled by Leah Poulton for 25 in the 22nd over.

This sparked a collapse which saw the Queenslanders lose 7-49 to be bowled out for 170 in the 44th over.

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22 December, 2007: Breakers put out Fire

Queensland Fire has fallen short of the NSW Breakers by 23 runs in their Women's National Cricket League match at the SCG on Saturday.

The match was reduced to 47 overs per side after persistent morning rain made play impossible.

The Fire won the toss and sent the Breakers in - and it was a move that paid immediate dividends with veteran bowler Cindy Kross claiming the wickets of Alex Blackwell (one) and Lisa Sthalekar (four).

And when Alyssa Healy was run out for four in the sixth over, NSW was struggling at 3-26.

Leah Poulton helped stabilise the innings with a gritty 22 before a 68-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Kate Blackwell and Ellyse Perry shifted momentum in favour of the home team.

Blackwell made an aggressive 41 from 65 deliveries while Perry compiled a stylish 37 from 67 balls as the Breakers were eventually bowled out for 189 in the 47th over.

Queensland got off to a slow start to the run chase, losing early wickets to be 4-43.

Rain then intervened and the target was reduced to 170 from 38 overs. However play only lasted five more overs before the covers were called for again.

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22 December, 2007: Scorpions earn bonus-point win

South Australia has comfortably beaten Western Australia by seven wickets and gained a bonus point in the process in a rain-shortened Women's National Cricket League match at Adelaide Oval No.2 on Saturday.

After restricting the Fury to just 8/130 from their allotted 30 overs - the start of play was delayed by four hours after heavy overnight rain - the Scorpions cruised home with 47 balls to spare.

Opener Shelley Nitschke laid the foundations for the Scorpions' victory, smashing 61 from 62 deliveries - including eight fours and two massive sixes - in an innings that earned her the player-of-the-match award.

Kris Britt (36 not out) and Jenny Gunn (21 not out) then guided the home side to 3/134 and the bonus point after a quickfire partnership.

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9 December, 2007: Happy day for Sthalekar

NSW Breakers captain Lisa Sthalekar celebrated her 100th WNCL match in style with a commanding 70 to steer her team to a 25-run win over Victoria Spirit at the MCG on Sunday.

Fresh from an unbeaten 93 in Saturday's fixture, Sthalekar took just 78 deliveries to score her runs in a knock that included 10 boundaries.

She was eventually dismissed by Julie Hunter when she smacked a full toss straight to Melanie Jones at deep mid-wicket.

With good support from Alex Blackwell (55) and Sarah Aley (33), the Breakers reached 8-228 from their 50 overs.

Hunter was the pick of the Victorian bowlers with 4-35, while Clea Smith, Jodie Dean and Rachael Haynes each took one wicket.

The Spirit got off to a good start with Haynes and Jones moving swiftly along to 56 before the latter was out for 39 top-edging a sweep to Rene Farrell at short fine leg from the bowling of Sthalekar.

Victorian skipper Sarah Edwards hit 20 before she was run out and then Haynes lost her wicket on 47 when she was stumped by Leonie Coleman.

Kelly Applebee struck 57 to keep the Spirit in the hunt but two further run outs - Jess Cameron for seven and Smith for 1 - dented the cause as Victoria fell short of its target.

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9 December, 2007: Fire hold on against Scorpions

Queensland has survived a dramatic middle-order collapse to beat South Australia by three wickets in their Women's National Cricket League match at Allan Border Field.

Chasing 159 for victory, the Fire got off to a reasonable start with openers Julia Price and Melissa Bulow advancing the score to 14 with relatively few troubles.

Bulow was the first to go in the sixth over for eight when she tried to cut a ball from Emma Sampson but could only manage an edge to the keeper.

Price was then joined at the crease by Kasee Marxsen, with the pair taking to the South Australian attack.

Marxsen was particularly ruthless, smashing seven boundaries on her way to 38 from 51 deliveries before falling in the 23rd over as Queensland reached 2-71.

The home side was 3-87 when Kirsten Pike was stumped for eight but looked to have the match well in hand with just 72 runs to get from 148 balls.

Things soon got jittery for Queensland from there, however, losing six wickets for the addition of just 32 runs as the Scorpions fought their way back into the contest.

Price, who had provided a steady hand at the other end while wickets fell around her, eventually went for 27 from 75 deliveries, with Jodie Purves and Lyndall Daley both falling for ducks, and Jude Coleman out for 10, as Queensland slumped to be 7-103.

It eventually got home with less than four overs to spare as Megan White (39 not out) and Dawn Holden (22 not out) put on an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 57 to steer the team to its first win of the year.

Kris Britt was the pick of the Scorpions bowlers with 3-27 from her 10 overs, while Sampson, Leanne Davis and Cara Fiebig each claimed one wicket.

Earlier, South Australia won the toss and elected to bat but could only rack up 158.

Opener Shelley Nitschke was the top-scorer for the Scorpions with 33, while Britt made 24 but no other batter could reach 20.

The South Australians lost a steady stream of wickets throughout the innings, with the Queensland bowlers sharing the load among themselves, Coleman, Pike, Kimmince and Holden each claiming two scalps.

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8 December, 2007: Breakers remain undefeated

The New South Wales Breakers have defeated the Victoria Spirit by seven wickets and gained a bonus point in their Women's National Cricket League match at the MCG on Saturday.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Spirit got off to a great start with openers Melanie Jones (54) and Rachael Haynes (38) putting on a 93-run opening partnership.

They were well supported by captain Sarah Edwards, who finished unbeaten on 44 from 74 deliveries.

However, no other Victorian batswoman reached double figures, as the Spirit eventually reached 8/179 from their 50 overs.

Sarah Andrews was the chief destroyer for the Breakers, as she collected three wickets from nine overs.

Set 180 for victory, NSW got off to a poor start when Leah Poulton was dismissed without scoring from the bowling of Annie-Rose Maloney.

But, a superb third-wicket partnership between Alex Blackwell (60) and captain Lisa Sthalekar (93 not out) guided the Breakers to victory with 13 overs to spare to ensure the bonus point was achieved.

Sthalekar's fantastic 93 came off 91 balls and included 11 boundaries, while Blackwell hit ten fours on her way to her third half century of the season.

The Victorian bowlers struggled, with star-bowler Clea Smith only collecting one wicket and going for just under five runs an over.

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8 December, 2007: Rolton steers Scorpions home

A superb century from Karen Rolton has led the South Australian Scorpions to an eight wicket victory over the Queensland Fire in their Women's National Cricket League match at the Allan Border Field on Saturday.

After winning the toss and choosing to field, the Scorpions struck early with Emma Sampson and Alicia Dean combining to remove Fire's captain Melissa Bulow.

The Queensland batters struggled throughout the day, with only two batswoman scoring more than 15 runs.

Julia Price (51) and Lyndall Daley (46 not out) tried hard all day, but just didn't have enough support as the Fire could only make 9/155 from their 50 overs.

Leanne Davis was the pick of the South Australian bowlers, finishing with the figures of 3-32 from her 10 overs.

Chasing 156 for victory, the Scorpions got off to a shaky start with both openers dismissed in three Ricki-Lee Rimmington balls.

But they were the only wickets the visitors lost as Rolton and Kris Britt combined to lead their team to victory with 16 overs to spare to secure the bonus point.

Rolton hit 20 boundaries on her way to a superb unbeaten 106 off just 95 balls, while Britt (35) happily played the support role.

Rimmington was the only Fire player to collect wickets as she finished with the figures of 2-35 from her seven overs.

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Vic v NSW & Qld v SA Milestones etc:

Debut: Cara Fiebig (S), Lyndall Daley (Q)

Batting PB: Alyssa Healy (N) 9

Bowling PB: Julie Hunter (V) 4/35, Leanne Davis (S) 3/32

(Equal) Most catches by a fielder in an innings: 4 Jude Coleman (Q)

100 WNCL matches: Lisa Sthalekar (6th player)

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24 November, 2007: Victorian women too good for WA

The Victoria Spirit have easily accounted for the Western Fury in their Women's National Cricket League match at the WACA on Saturday.

The Fury won the toss and elected to field, but couldn't take a wicket for 30 overs, as Victoria went on to make 4/239 from its 50 overs.

Melanie Jones and Rachael Haynes were the chief destroyers putting on a first wicket partnership of 139.

Haynes was eventually dismissed for 69, while Jones stuck around to make a patient 73 off 124 balls after more than two-and-a-half hours at the crease.

Jaime Wilson was the pick of the WA bowlers, collecting 2/31 from her seven overs. But all the Fury bowlers struggled to keep it straight, as they collectively bowled 27 wides.

Needing 240 to win, the Fury got off to a bad start with Donna Brown, Lauren Stammers and Angele Gray all dismissed by the ninth over, leaving the score at 3/11.

Nicole Bolton and Jenny Wallace combined for a partnership of 95, but the Fury never really threatened to reach the required total.

The match was finished in sensational style with Clea Smith grabbing a hat-trick to clean up the Fury tail. She ended up with the amazing figures of 5/10 from eight overs.

The Western Fury were all out in the 46th over, posting a score of 142 to give Victoria a 93-run victory.

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25 November, 2007: Spirit defeat Fury again

The Victoria Spirit has again proven too strong for the Western Fury, winning their second Women's National Cricket League match by 42-runs at the WACA on Sunday.

The Spirit won the toss and chose to bat first, eventually setting a solid total of 9/191 from their 50 overs.

Kelly Applebee was Victoria's best batswoman, finishing unbeaten on 56 after more than two hours at the crease.

The Spirit looked in trouble when they lost four wickets for just three runs to be struggling at 7/118, but with the help of Clea Smith, who hit 21, as well as a total of 35 extras from the Fury, Victoria were able to post a competitive total.

Renee Chappell was the pick of the WA bowlers, finishing with 3-20 from her nine overs, while Lauren Stammers and captain Avril Fahey both chipped in with two wickets each.

The Western Fury never really looked like winning, losing wickets at a steady rate throughout their innings.

Stammers top scored with a patient 31, but she didn't have enough support, as the Spirit eventually bowled them all out for 149 with the second last ball of the match.

The Spirit bowlers shared the wickets around with Smith, Julie Hunter and Jane Franklin all bagging two each.

The Vics next play on December 8 against NSW at the MCG, while the Fury won't be in action until the 22nd of December when they take on SA.

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WA v VIC - Milestones, PBs, etc:

Debutants: (WA) Donna Brown, Charlotte Horton & Gemma Triscari; (VIC) Kristen Beams & Annie Maloney
Batting PBs: Nicole Bolton 54 (WA), Jenny Wallace 39 (WA)
Bowling PBs: Clea Smith 5/10 including hat-trick (VIC), Rachel Haynes 1/4 (VIC), Renee Chappell 3/20 (WA)

Clea Smith 100 WNCL wickets (6th player)
Melanie Jones 3000 career runs

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From www.cricket.com.au

17 November, 2007: NSW women defeat SA

The NSW Breakers have defeated the SA Scorpions by six wickets in the first game of the Women's National Cricket League at Bankstown Oval on Saturday.

The Breakers won the toss and sent SA in to bat, which ultimately proved to be a good decision as they limited the Scorpions to just 9-165 from their 50 overs.

NSW were led by youngster Ellyse Perry and Australian vice-captain Lisa Sthalekar, as well a superb display of fielding which produced four run outs.

Perry finished with figures of 2-29 from her 10 overs, as well as two run outs in the field, while Sthalekar completed her 10 overs for figures of 2-7, and also ran out Emma Sampson.

The Scorpions looked like posting a competitive total after they were 3-135 with 10 overs left, but when top scorer Karen Rolton was dismissed by Perry for 59, SA collapsed, losing a further five wickets for only 30 runs.

Led by opener Alex Blackwell and Sthalekar, NSW cruised to their target of 166, losing only three wickets along the way.

Blackwell made an impressive unbeaten 75, while Sthalekar chipped in with a quick fire 56 to cap off a great day for her personally, as the Breakers reached their target with over 12 overs to spare.

Shelley Nitschke was the best of the bowlers collecting two wickets, while Sampson got the other.

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18 November, 2007: NSW Beakers defeat SA again

A superb bowling and fielding display has once again enabled the NSW Breakers to overcome the SA Scorpions in their Women's National Cricket League match at Bankstown Oval on Sunday.

NSW won the toss and this time elected to bat first, having chosen to bowl in their first match on Saturday.

Breakers' opener Alex Blackwell continued her fine form, following up her unbeaten 75 on Saturday with a knock of 52 to put her team in a strong position.

But when she was dismissed, the score was 4-85 and NSW struggled to get back on track, losing their next five wickets for only 25 runs.

Only a last wicket partnership of 38 runs from Leonie Coleman and Rene Farrell gave the Breakers a reasonable total of 148 to defend.

Australian bowler Kris Britt was superb with the ball finishing with figures of 4-27 from her 10 overs, Jenny Gunn also chipped in with three wickets to help give the Scorpions a chance of winning the match.

SA started off well with openers Britt and Shelley Nitschke putting on 49 before both were dismissed in quick succession.

The Scorpions still looked like comfortably reaching the required total when they needed 40 runs from their last 10 overs with six wickets still in hand.

However, a combination of great fielding and superb bowling had SA all out for just 123, 25 runs short of the Breakers.

Lisa Sthalekar continued her fine form with ball finishing with impressive figures of 2-9 from her 10 overs, and the Breakers' fielding was once again top notch producing a total of four run outs.

Ellyse Perry was superb again, collecting three wickets and also picking up the final wicket, when she ran out Neisha Iles to give the Breakers their second successive win.

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NSW v SA - Milestones, PBs, etc:

Debutants: (NSW) Alyssa Healy & Ellyse Perry; (SA) Leanne Davis & Teagan McPharlin
Batting PBs: Rene Farrell (NSW) 15, Neisha Iles (SA) 4*
Bowling PBs: Kris Britt (SA) 4/27, Jenny Gunn (SA) 3/23

Karen Rolton (SA) 4000 WNCL runs (2nd player)
Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) 2000 WNCL runs (9th player)
Kate Blackwell (NSW) 50 matches

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Team Lists 2007-08

NSW Breakers
Sarah Aley, Sarah Andrews, Charlotte Anneveld, Alex Blackwell, Kate Blackwell, Leonie Coleman, Rene Farrell, Nicole Goodwin, Michelle Goszko, Alyssa Healy, Lisa Kuschert, Sharon Millanta, Kate Owen, Alison Parkin, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Lisa Sthalekar and Olivia Thornton. Coach: Richard Bates.

Queensland Fire
Reanna Browne, Melissa Bulow, Jude Coleman, Lyndall Daley, Dawn Holden, Delissa Kimmince, Cindy Kross, Kasee Marxsen, Kirsten Pike, Julia Price, Jodie Purves, Rikki-Lee Rimmington, Kirby Short and Megan White. Coach: Joanne Broadbent.

SA Scorpions
Kris Britt, Alicia Dean, Leanne Davis, Cara Fiebig, Jenny Gunn, Neisha Iles, Sarah-Jane Jameson, Naomi Maidment, Heather Marshall, Narine Maurangi, Fiona McDonald, Teagan McPharlin, Angela Moritz, Stephanie Morrison, Shelley Nitschke, Karen Rolton, Teegan-Kate Rowbottom, Emma Sampson, Kiara Stockley, Amy Walker, Amy Wiseman and Julie Woerner and Lisa Wundenberg. . Coach: Ben Arthur.

Victoria Spirit
Kelly Applebee, Kristen Beams, Jessica Cameron, Meagan Compston, Jodie Dean, Sarah Edwards, Bronwyn Evans, Jane Franklin, Rachael Haynes, Julie Hunter, Emma Inglis, Melanie Jones, Annie-Rose Maloney, Emily McIntyre, Megan Pauwels, Clea Smith, Bethany Taylor, and Karyn Winterton. Coach: Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Western Fury
Emma Biss, Nicole Bolton, Donna Brown, Kate Burns, Renee Chappell, Lauren Ebsary, Avril Fahey, Rachael Giggins, Angele Gray, Melissa Holmes, Melissa Horn, Charlotte Horton, Holly Hyder, Amy Jason-Jones, Rachael Loh, Bonnie Macintosh, Peta Merrilees, Sheldeanne Radalj, Lauren Shaw, Lauren Stammers, Gemma Triscari, Jenny Wallace, Amanda Williams, Robyn Williams and Jaimi Wilson. Coach: Steve Philippe.

WNCL Draw 2007-08

Points Table

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Current Season Statistics

WNCL Records | All Players, Season 2007-08| Player Career Stats

TOP BATTING STATS

Runs (min 200)	Average (min 200/30.00)	Strike Rate (min 200/50.00)
384 K Rolton (S)	54.86 K Rolton (S)	81.67 L Sthalekar (N)
312 L Sthalekar (N)	44.57 L Sthalekar (N)	76.17 K Rolton (S)
293 A Blackwell (N)	41.86 A Blackwell (N)	74.67 S Nitschke (S)
285 M Jones (V)	38.50 K Applebee (V)	72.17 L Ebsary (W)
250 S Nitschke (S)	35.63 M Jones (V)	62.00 K Applebee (V)
236 L Ebsary (W)	31.25 S Nitschke (S)	60.83 A Blackwell (N)
231 K Applebee (V)	30.57 S Edwards (V)	60.00 S Edwards (V)
229 R Haynes (V)	30.57 J Purves (Q)	58.83 M Jones (V)
214 S Edwards (V)		56.83 J Purves (Q)
214 J Purves (V)		51.17 R Haynes (V)

TOP BOWLING STATS

Wickets (min 10)	Average (min 10/max 25.00)	Economy Rate (min 30 overs/max 3.00)
14 R Chappell (W)	13.40 J Gunn (S)	2.73 L Sthalekar (N)
13 K Pike (Q)	13.86 R Chappell (W)
13 C Smith (V)	14.58 L Sthalekar (N)
12 E Sampson (S)	14.73 L Davis (S)
12 L Sthalekar (N)	16.36 K Britt (S)
11 K Britt (S)	18.42 E Sampson (S)
11 L Davis (S)	20.08 C Smith (V)
10 J Gunn (S)	20.70 D Kimmince (Q)
10 D Kimmince (Q)	21.23 K Pike (Q)
10 S Nitschke (S)

TOP WICKETKEEPING - FIELDING

	Ct	St	Total		Ct
A Dean (S)	10	8	18*	A Gray (W)	6
J Purves (Q)	14	2	16	J Coleman (Q)	5
L Coleman (N)	7	5	12	S Nitschke (S)	5
	7	5	12	L Sthalekar (N)	5

* WNCL record

PARTNERSHIPS

1	139	M Jones (73) & R Haynes (69)	Victoria Spirit v Western Fury	24/11/07
2	136	J Woerner (57*) & K Rolton (61)	SA Scorpions v Western Fury	23/12/07
3	151*	K Rolton (106*) & K Britt (35*)	SA Scorpions v Queensland Fire	8/12/07
4	98	L Ebsary (72) & R Chappell (34)	Western Fury v Queensland Fire	11/01/08
5	68	K Blackwell (41) & E Perry (37)	NSW Breakers v Queensland Fire	22/12/07
6	83	E Inglis (46*) & J Dean (26)	Victoria Spirit v SA Scorpions	13/01/08
7	38	A Fahey (62) & A Williams (10)	Western Fury v SA Scorpions	23/12/07
8	57*	M White (39*) & D Holden (22*)	Queensland Fire v SA Scorpions	9/12/07
9	61*	J Purves (85*) & J Verrall (18*)	Queensland Fire v Victoria Spirit	04/01/08
10	38	L Coleman (23*) & R Farrell (15)	NSW Breakers v SA Scorpions	18/11/07

* denotes unbroken/not out

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Twenty20 2007-08*

DATE	TEAMS	VENUE	WINNER
Mon 19 Nov	NSW Breakers v SA Scorpions	Alan Davidson Oval	NSW
Sun 6 Jan	Victoria Spirit v Queensland Fire	MCG	VIC
	Western Fury v NSW Breakers	WACA	NSW
Thurs 10 Jan	SA Scorpions v Victoria Spirit	Adelaide Oval	SA
	Queensland Fire v Western Fury	Gabba	WA

* Not all states play each other in Twenty20 competition

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For more information and stats on Nationals, check out the Nationals/WNCL section under All 'n Sundry....

Past WNCL Results:

2006/2007 Results 2005/2006 Results 2004/2005 Results 2003/2004 Results 2002/2003 Results
2001/2002 Results 2000/2001 Results 1999/2000 Results 1998/1999 Results 1997/1998 Results
1996/1997 Results