The Vic Spirit recorded the upset of the Women's National Cricket League season after defeating NSW Breakers by three wickets on Saturday.
An 82-run opening stand from Meg Lanning (59) and Elyse Villani (39) proved to be crucial as the home side chased down the Breakers' total of 273 all out with nine balls to spare.
The Breakers, who have won seven consecutive WNCL titles, entered the game at the Junction Oval undefeated after five matches and came up against a Spirit side sitting third on the table.
After winning the toss and batting, the Breakers began in typically strong fashion with Rachael Haynes (17) and Leah Poulton (50) both amongst the runs before Haynes fell to the bowling of Molly Strano (2-66 from 10 overs) with the score on 42.
But the Spirit found wickets hard to come by as the innings progressed which allowed the Breakers to pile on the runs.
Alex Blackwell (59) joined Poulton at the crease and the pair pushed the score to 104 before Poulton was caught by Villani from the bowling of Briana Binch (2-55 from 10 overs).
Key partnerships between Blackwell and Lisa Sthalekar (36), who put on 60 for the third wicket, and then Sarah Coyte (47) and Claire Koski (21), who managed 58 for the seventh wicket, saw the Breakers post an imposing total after 48.3 overs.
Despite the impressive score the Breakers would later rue their inability to bat out their 50 overs.
Lanning and Villani built a foundation for the home side before Jess Cameron (59) was joined by Emma Inglis (27) with the pair showing an impressive array of shots to move the score to 3-198 before Cameron was undone by Kara Sutherland (2-32 from seven overs).
The Breakers appeared to tip the game in their favour with Nicola Carey (2-29 from six overs) claiming Inglis caught and bowled just three balls after Cameron's dismissal before Emily McIntyre was adjudged LBW in Carey's next over later to leave the Spirit in trouble at 5-203 with 12 overs remaining.
But Kelly Applebee and Briana Binch rose to the occasion, putting on 68 runs to help the Spirit manage 7-275 with just over an over to spare.
The victory is the Spirit's fourth of the season.
First Posted 05 January, 2013 5:48PM AEST
