TASMANIA EXTENDS RUN WITH WA THUMPING
TASMANIA has cantered to a third consecutive win to start the WNCL season, thumping defending champions Western Australia by nine wickets at Kingston’s Twin Ovals on Wednesday.
Tasmania’s bowlers restricted the visitors to 8-170 from their 50 overs, before Rachel Priest (33), Sasha Moloney (77 not out), and Nicola Carey (50 not out) made light work of the chase, reaching the target with more than 18 overs to spare.
The Tigers now sit atop the WNCL ladder with three wins from as many games.
Opening batter Chloe Piparo (50) and Piepa Cleary (42 not out) offered some resistance for Western Australia, but no other batter passed 18.
Carey and Belinda Vakarewa took two wickets apiece, while Heather Graham and Sam Bates chipped in with one each in a disciplined Tasmanian bowling display.
Tasmanian opener Moloney anchored the run-chase, and said winning the toss and bowling first was an advantage.
“We knew it was going to be a little bit tacky to start with, and then only get better, so the decision to bowl first, we thought that worked in our favour,” Moloney said.
The Tigers take on Western Australia again at the Twin Ovals from 10am on Friday, and Moloney said there was room for improvement from the Tigers in that match.
“We know they’re going to come out fighting, so for us it’s about sticking to what we’re good at, which we did today for the most part,” she said.
“I still don’t think we played a full game today, so that’s something we’d be looking forward to doing on Friday.”