A fine Nicole Bolton century has helped the Western Fury to a convincing five-wicket win over the Victoria Spirit in the Women's National Cricket League on Saturday.
The opener struck 12 fours in her 104 off 111 balls at Casey Fields, leading the Fury to their target of 181 with 59 balls to spare.
Emily McIntyre (39) top scored for the Spirit, but Gemma Triscari (4-31) saw Victoria bowled out in their 47th over for 180.
Bolton and Jenny Wallace (51 off 85) then gave Fury a dream start to their chase, reaching 129 before the latter fell to Kristen Beams (2-47).
No other Fury batswoman reached double figures, with Suzy Bates (six), Chloe Piparo (six) and Nicky Shaw (one) falling cheaply.
Bolton was in control of the chase, though, and brought up her century with a boundary over extra cover off Molly Strano in the 34th over.
She departed two overs later with the Fury still needing 12 runs to win and they reached their target despite losing regular wickets.
Earlier, openers Meg Lanning (29) and Elyse Villani (18) saw Victoria make a bright start, reaching 53 without loss.
Shaw (2-25) clean bowled Villani and Triscari removed Lanning, before the departures of Jess Cameron (two) and Kelly Applebee (15) had the Spirit at 4-70.
McIntyre made 39 off 70 and despite solid contributions from Beams and Briana Binch, who both made 16, the Fury never looked like losing thanks to Bolton.
First Posted 28 October, 2012 1:45PM AEST
