VICTORIA has ended its WNCL season on a high, defeating reigning champions Tasmania by 24 runs in its final match of the fixture.

The home side batted first and made 9/268, before Tasmania was then bowled out for 244.

Much like the clash on Monday, slow and steady was the way to go for Victoria early in the innings. The wickets did not really start tumbling until late, but the hosts were still batting at a very conservative pace.

The Victorians picked the pace up a bit later in the innings, but with that the wickets also started to fall at a pretty regular interval.

At the top of the innings skipper Nicole Faltum smashed 12 fours on her way to 86, while later in the innings Meg Lanning – who was batting at six – struck 10 fours of her own her way to 64.

Meanwhile Nicola Carey picked up three wickets for the Tasmanians, while Lauren Smith and Heather Graham picked up two of them each.

Tasmania made a quickfire start to its innings, but found itself at 3/50 only eight overs.

Then Carey and Emma Manix-Geeves teamed up and put together a 109-run fourth wicket partnership to really steer control in the tourists’ favour, and that was solidified even further with a 50-run sixth wicket partnership between Carey and Smith.

However, the Victorian bowlers then really turned the screws on the Tasmanian tail end, and got the rewards in return.

The tourists then lost 4/43 to be all out halfway through the 48th over. Unsurprisingly their two top scorers were Carey (92) and Manix-Geeves (45).

Meanwhile all bar one Victorian bowler that was used picked up at least one wicket. Georgia Prestwidge and Rhiann O’Donnell were the pick of the bowlers though, picking up three each.

Victoria’s season may be over but Tasmania’s is far from it, with the Tigers now sitting back and waiting to see who they will play in the WNCL Final later this month.