Mooney, King steer WA to bonus-point win over Tasmania

Beth Mooney has made the most of a rare appearance in Western Australian colours, steering her state to a bonus-point four-wicket win in their opening Women's National Cricket League match against Tasmania.

Former Queensland quick Ruby Strange starred with the ball on debut for WA, taking 5-49 to help bowl the Tigers out for 232 in 45 overs at the WACA Ground.

Only a fighting 86-ball 79 from Tabatha Saville saved Tasmania from further blushes, after they had earlier been teetering at 7-93 following the single-digit dismissals of Kate Pelle (9), Nicola Carey (8), Ella Hayward (0), Naomi Stalenberg (1) and Courtney Sippel (6).

Lizelle Lee had looked ominous at the top of the order for the Tigers, hitting 50 from 42, but her onslaught was ended by Strange's first WA wicket.

The hosts also looked in trouble in reply at 3-20 when strikes from Carey and Sippel removed opener Chloe Piparo (1), first drop Mikayla Hinkley (2) and CA-contracted allrounder Heather Graham (0).

But Mooney, playing her first WNCL match since September 2023, was at her unstoppable best, cruising while wickets fell at the other end.

She only needed someone to stick around - something that looked in danger of not happening at 6-128 - before her Aussie teammate Alana King stepped up, scoring an unbeaten 55 of her own as WA eased home in 35.2 overs. 

"This is one of my favourite places to bat in the world and to top it all off with a win and a great group of people to play with ... they welcome me back with open arms when I come back here, and it's such an amazing feeling to help the team get over the line," Mooney said.

"Ruby came over from Queensland this year, and that's never easy to come into a new environment and leave the home that you've loved for so long, so to see her do really well and grab the game when Tassie were on a bit of a roll there was amazing to see."

King battled her way through an injury scare to help Mooney seal victory. Earlier, she had been struck on the left wrist while diving to intercept a low return chance.

She briefly left the field, but returned in the 36th over to take the wicket of Lauren Smith.

King was also forced to call out the trainer while batting, having appeared to aggravate her lower arm while running between wickets, but batted on alongside Mooney after receiving treatment. 

The teams will meet again on Thursday.