SOUTH Australia’s hopes of avenging the recent WNCL final heartbreak have taken a hit, after it went down to Victoria by eight wickets yesterday. The Scorpions were bowled out for 210, and the Victorians reached the target with 14 overs to spare.

South Australia lost its first wicket on the third ball of the innings with only one run on the board, and although their second wicket partnership was a lot healthier, it was still a sign of things to come as they then lost wickets three and four for no additional runs.

There were two more partnerships of a similar size to that 43-run second wicket one, but most partnerships were around that 10 run mark or lower.

The star of the South Australian batting innings was Jemma Barsby, who hit seven fours on her way to 78.

Meanwhile Sophie Molineux had another captain’s performance with ball in hand, taking four scalps. She was ably assisted by young stars Milly Illingworth and Ella Hayward who picked up two wickets each.

The Victorian chase was really a building process. The first wicket partnership was only 31 runs, while the second grew to 50 runs. However, once Meg Lanning and Sophie Reid teamed up for the third wicket, that spelled the end of the South Australian hopes for victory. The pair proved impossible to dismiss, smashing 20 fours between them, and helped guide Victoria to the win. The Scorpions did not help themselves though when they also conceded 19 extras.

Lanning went on to finish on 82 not out, while Reid ultimately made 63 not out.

Although it was hard going for the South Australian bowlers, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Kate Peterson did provide some brief joy, picking up a wicket each.

The win sees Victoria jump its westerly neighbour on the WNCL ladder, and is now only three wins out of the top two, with a game in hand over the currently second placed Queenslanders.