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Breakers out to equal remarkable record

NSW Breakers could match the record for most consecutive premierships in Australian sport on Sunday

The New South Wales Breakers will have the chance to equal an Australian sporting record on Sunday when they meet South Australia in the Women’s National Cricket League final.

Should the Lend Lease Breakers triumph, it would be an incredible 11th straight title in the 50-over competition, a streak that started in 2005-06 with a victory over Queensland.

It would equal the record for most consecutive premierships by any Australian team in Australian sport, a mark set by St George Dragons in the NSWRL between 1956 and 1966.

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Making NSW’s winning run even more remarkable is the fact the Breakers have played in all 20 WNCL finals.

"It’s an amazing winning streak and we’ve very determined make it one more this Sunday," NSW skipper Alex Blackwell – the only current player to have been a part of all 10 titles - told cricket.com.au.

"We’ve played some very good cricket but we’ll have to play very well to beat South Australia."

While NSW do have a wealth of talent at their disposal – namely Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell – the Breakers have fought their way into Sunday’s final with a relatively new-look squad.

After last season’s triumph, also over the Breezair Scorpions, the Breakers bid farewell to veteran Leah Poulton (retired), Australian fast bowler Sarah Coyte (South Australia) and spinner Erin Osborne (ACT).

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Angela Reakes (ACT) and Kara Sutherland (Queensland) also sought moves interstate and while they did manage to lure Farrell back from the Meteors and also recruit England spinner Laura Marsh, the Breakers were largely left to look to their youth to fill the void.

"It’s been good to see Nicola Carey perform so well, stepping into the number five position Leah vacated," Blackwell said.

"Leah’s been coaching her which is very pleasing.

"Lauren Smith and Lauren Cheatle have been outstanding youngsters in our team, they’ve just performed so beautifully."

NSW narrowly won their first match of the season, edging Western Australia by one wicket, before their campaign stalled with a one-run defeat to the Scorpions.

With only the top two teams progressing to the decider, Blackwell is understandably thrilled with how her team fought back to finish on top of the ladder, four points clear of South Australia.

"We’ve had some really great competition this year," she said.

"Last year we scraped through at number four and managed to win our semi-final.

"This year we’ve been consistent and had really strong contributions from many individuals.

"We’re a new team, we’re not the same group of girls who won it last year. Some girls just want to win their first title."

Standing in the NSW’s way is South Australia, who boast the Australian fast bowling pair of Megan Schutt and Coyte, plus star England batter Sarah Taylor.

"They do have a star studded team as well, Australian players as well as internationals, so we’re not going to take that lightly," Blackwell said.

The WNCL final will be played at Sydney’s Hurstville Oval on Sunday from 10am AEDT.

The match will be streamed live on cricket.com.au with commentary from former Southern Star Lisa Sthalekar and the ABC's Shannon Byrne.