THANKS to a century from Bridget Patterson and a fine display of bowling from Ellie Falconer, South Australia has demolished Victoria and kept its own Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) season alive, even if only briefly.

The Scorpions won by 125 runs, and with the bonus point it means they are in the WNCL final for now. Their season now hinges on today’s New South Wales and Queensland clash, with a Queensland win the only way for the South Australians to keep their place in the final.

South Australia chose to bat first, and it ultimately proved a fruitful decision. Although South Australia did not get off to the best of starts, losing Emma De Broughe at 1/33, Patterson and Josie Dooley then got to work and put on a 144 run partnership to get things moving in the right direction again. Patterson then put on a 56 run partnership with Courtney Webb and the innings really began to get away from the Victorians.

In the end, South Australia finished on the very competitive total of 5/264 from their 50 overs. Unsurprisingly for the Scorpions, it was Patterson and Dooley who top scored with the bat. Patterson was the cornerstone of the innings, and made 118. Dooley on the other hand made 63.

For the Victorians, Kimberley Garth was the star with the ball, taking three wickets, while Samantha Bates was the only other wicket taker with one.

The Victorian innings did not get off to the best start either, and it was actually worse then the South Australian start with the Victorian opening partnership only 16 runs. They then lost their next two wickets for five runs to find themselves 2/21 and then 3/21 not too long after.

That really was a sign of what was in store for the rest of the innings for the Victorians. Anna Lanning and Ella Hayward put up a bit of a resistance late, but everyone else failed around them and no one really got a decent start.

The Victorians were eventually bowled out for 139 halfway through the 43rd over. Lanning (40) and Hayward (24) were the two highest scorers for the Victorians, and the only ones to make the score higher than 20.

For the Scorpions, Falconer had another great day out with the ball, taking four wickets in her eight and a half overs. Jemma Barsby took three, while Brooke Harris took two.

While South Australia is sweating on the result of the New South Wales and Queensland match today to see whether their season will continue, Victoria’s season is done no matter what and the Victorians can put th frustrating season behind them.