In the second of their back-to-back WNCL games at Allan Border Field, Tahlia Wilson made sure the Breakers narrowly completed a sweep of Queensland despite a stunning late collapse by New South Wales.
Outcasts in Australia Despite Jess Jonassen’s blistering 89 off 83 balls, the Fire’s all-out total of 216 always seemed low since Wilson hit a brilliant 97 off 112 balls to guarantee the visitors’ second victory against Queensland in three days in Brisbane.
The right-hander tormented the hosts with a string of cross-batted blows, but that shot proved fatal as she was caught three runs short of her fourth WNCL century on the leg-side boundary.
That occurred amid NSW’s sharp sway in the face of an obvious outcome. They were panicking at Grace Parsons’s deft spell of 4-38 from 7.3 overs and lost 7-42. As the Breakers trailed 3-1 in nine deliveries, rising leg-spinner Parsons was on a hat-trick, giving Queensland a little chance to win.
However, NSW again turned to their lower order when No. 9 Sam Bates (6no) hit the game-winning single to see her team limp to a two-wicket victory with 21 balls remaining. On Friday, at the same venue, NSW had depended on a 90-run seventh-wicket partnership to get them over the finish line.
Earlier in their 10-over stints, Bates (2-25) and Sarah Coyte (3-37) had been crucial, steadily advancing through the middle overs, with Jonassen the only one offering any sustained opposition.
The World Cup-winning all-rounder for Australia’s outside team smashed ten fours and a six, but he was the penultimate wicket taken by Queensland before they were bowled out with twenty-one balls remaining unfaced.
Wilson shared in 85- and 89-run stands with opening partner Elsa Hunter (28 off 35) and first-drop Anika Learoyd (44 off 74), respectively, although Jonassen (1-29 from 10) also proved challenging to get away with the ball in hand.
Lucy Hamilton, an outstanding left-arm fast, played a pull shot and eventually outwitted Wilson (1-36 from 10 overs).