AN UNBEATEN ton from Nicola Carey has helped Tasmania square the ledger against Queensland in the second match between the states in the Women’s National Cricket League (WCNL). In response to Queensland’s victory over Tasmania on Friday, Casey smacked 100 not out off 109 balls to guide her side to victory, with Heather Graham also hitting a half century.

The Tasmanians won the toss and opted to bowl at Blundstone Arena, sending Queensland pair Georgia Redmayne and Georgia Voll to the crease. The opening duo certainly got the Fire off to the perfect start, producing an 83-run partnership before Voll was dismissed for 31. Voll looked to have been dismissed earlier after Belinda Vakarewa appeared to bowl the batter, but a lack of appeal from the Tigers meant Voll remained at the crease. Whilst Redmayne would surpass her half century (63 off 88 balls including eight fours), the Queensland middle order would make starts, without going on with it.

The next three batters came and went with some high-class shots, producing a combined 98 runs off 115 balls at an 85.2 per cent strike rate. Charli Knott (34 off 46) hit four boundaries and a six, Grace Harris (35 off 37) hit two boundaries and a six) and Mikayla Hinkley (29 off 32) hit two boundaries. Both Graham and Sarah Coyte were causing issues for the batting side, taking a couple of wickets each at that stage, and producing consistent bowlign throughout the contest.

Queensland only got to bat for the 48 overs in the end due to the weather conditions, with last match’s hero Jessica Jonassen hitting a cameo knock of 15 off 19, before Coyte snagged her third wicket for the home side. The visitors ended on a score of 6-223 from the 48 overs, with rain coming to close the curtain on their innings. Coyte produced the best bowling effort with figures of 3-40 off nine overs, whilst Graham (2-46 off 10) and Carey (1-47 off nine) also took wickets. Though not getting a wicket, Vakarewa produced a superb economical bowling stint of 0-29 off 10 overs.

Under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Tasmania was given a task of 232 from its innings to secure the win. It was not looking great early, with both openers dismissed within 50 runs as Elyse Villani (seven runs off 21 balls) and Rachel Priest (25 off 40) were dismissed off the bowling of Courtney Sippel and Jonassen respectively. At 2-49, Tasmania needed to make a stand, and the pairing of Carey and Graham certainly did that. The duo put on a third wicket partnership of 111 runs, with Graham making 55 off 65, hitting five boundaries at an 84.62 per cent strike rate.

Carey would remain at the crease, as her next partners came and went with Naomi Stalenberg (12 off 14) and Molly Strano (11 off 13) would add 15 and 34-run partnerships, with Carey doing most of the heavy lifting. Boundary after boundary began to chalk up the talented all-rounder’s total, as she approached her century with the Tigers quickly chasing down the total. With six overs remaining, Carey played a nice shot to deep backward point for a run to bring up her ton, before Emma Mannix Geeves hit another five runs in the over, then slammed home a four off the first ball of the 46th over to win the match.

Whilst Mannix-Geeves would finish with an unbeaten 12 runs off nine balls, it was all about Carey, who’s last run got her to her century. She finished with 100 unbeaten to her name off 109 balls, including 10 boundaries. She did it well off a 91.74 per cent strike rate, helping the Tigers chase down the total. Sippel was the pick of the Queensland bowlers with figures of 1-34 off nine overs, while Jonassen had an economical 1-38 off 10. Meagan Dixon and Harris also took a wicket each on the day.

Queensland will return home to face South Australia in early January, with Tasmania having the tough task of the great unknown, as the Tigers prepare to take on Western Australia with border restrictions looming.