Meteors end SA's final dreams in WNCL thriller

A miraculous chase from the ACT Meteors has thwarted South Australia’s hopes of making the Women’s National Cricket League final, instead paving the way for Queensland to join Victoria in Saturday’s decider.

With their destiny in their own hands, needing a win to seal second spot and a place in the final, the Scorpions were unable to defend 261 as Meteors opener Katie Mack laid the platform with 95, before fireworks from Carly Leeson (28) and Nicola Hancock (14*) in the closing stages sealed a three-wicket win in the final over at Karen Rolton Oval.

In chasing down the Scorpions’ total, the Meteors pulled off the fifth highest chase in WNCL history, and the largest in the team’s history.

After Meteors openers Mack and Erica Kershaw laid a solid platform with a 131-run opening stand, a moment of combined brilliance in the field sprung the Scorpions into action as they wrestled the momentum back in front of their home crowd.

A desperate Josie Dooley save, backed up by a brilliant throw into wicketkeeper Tegan McPharlin saw Kershaw suddenly run out on 52 in the 27th over.

Soon after leg-spinner Wellington delivered the next breakthrough as experienced allrounder Erin Osborne was stumped on nine.

Then, medium-pacer Brooke Harris was thrown the ball by McPharlin and proceeded to tear through the Meteors with Angela Reakes (20), Mack (95) and Olivia Porter (7) removed inside five overs.

With the Meteors floundering at 5-199 in the 41st over, still needing 63 runs for victory, allrounder Leeson came to the crease to snatch the Scorpions’ finals dream away from them with a clutch, run-a-ball 28.

Leeson first combined with big-hitting Maddie Penna for a crucial 41 runs before being joined by Hancock who struck seven boundaries including two sixes to finish unbeaten on 14 runs from seven balls.

Leeson was stopped in her tracks by Betts in the penultimate over, but there was to be no further twists as Amy Yates struck a four to hit the winnings runs for the Meteors with five balls to spare.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, the South Australians found themselves in early trouble, losing 4-62 inside the first 21 overs before captain McPharlin led a resurgence at the backend of the innings.

In-form Scorpions opener Bridget Patterson, who has scored two centuries this season, was the first to depart when Leeson took a fine catch at first slip to hand Hancock the first breakthrough in the third over.

Under pressure to rotate the strike, opener Emma de Broughe was run out for three in the ninth over shortly before Courtney Webb followed suit, falling to Chloe Rafferty for six.

Dooley strode to the crease at 3-41, needing to replicate the form that saw her strike her maiden century on Friday, but was only able to add 21 to the scoreboard before being bowled by Carly Leeson.

It was the South Australian middle and lower order batters who rose to the task, with captain and No.5 batter McPharlin digging in for a crucial 62 off 68.

McPharlin combined with Annie O’Neil (37 off 38) for an 81-run stand that pushed the hosts towards a competitive total.

Even with McPharlin back in the sheds in the 40th over, key contributions in the closing stages from tailenders Wellington (30), Eliza Doddrige (27) and Alex Price (23) propelled the Scorpions to a defendable total at Karen Rolton Oval that saw them come agonisingly close to a finals berth.

The WNCL final will be contested by Victoria and Queensland on Saturday 27 March at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

South Australia XI: Bridget Patterson, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Courtney Webb, Tegan McPharlin (c/wk), Annie O'Neil, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Samantha Betts, Eliza Doddridge, Alex Price, Brooke Harris

ACT XI: Katie Mack, Erica Kershaw (wk), Erin Osborne, Angela Reakes (c), Madeline Penna, Olivia Porter, Carly Leeson, Nicola Hancock, Amy Yates , Zoe Cooke, Chloe Rafferty