IN what was both sides’ opening Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) match, it was South Australia that was victorious in front of a home crowd at Karen Rolton Oval. It defeated the ACT Meteors by 97 runs, due to the lower order batting of Jemma Barsby and Eleanor Larosa.

Batting first, SA put 284 runs on the board after somewhat of a shaky first portion of the batting innings. Bridget Patterson‘s run-out at the hands of Alisha Bates was the first wicket for 53 runs.

The wickets after that got closer together with Emma De Broughe joining her in the sheds seven overs later, then followed Madeline Penna and state debutant Ellie Johnston three overs later.

Within 13 overs, South Australia was reduced to 7-181 with the middle order not able to contribute as much as they have previously. Amanda-Jade Wellington hardly troubled the bowlers, who cashed in to claim the wickets of Courtney Webb (40 off 40) and Annie O’Neil (36 off 37) who missed out on half-centuries.

For the ACT, it was former SA spinner Anesu Mushangwe that did the damage, taking three wickets within 10 balls (Penna, Johnston and Wellington).

With 20 overs left in the innings, Barsby and Larosa had to resurrect which could have been a opening round upset on the cards. The pair, who are known for their off-spin and medium pace deliveries more than their batting ability, shone in the latter stages of the first innings.

The seventh wicket partnership tallied 89 runs with captain Barsby contributing 58 off 72, while young all-rounder Larosa hit an unbeaten half-century.

In the second innings, it was Paris Bowdler and Annie Wikman that started strong but ultimately fell to Wellington.

After that, the Meteors were never really in the contest with no-one able to continue to bat alongside ACT’s top scorer Zoe Cooke (41 not out). Larosa followed up her batting innings with the invaluable wicket of the ACT captain Katie Mack, who has been their big scorer over the last two seasons.

Wellington (3/39) and de Broughe (3/2) took three wickets each to be sure of the win, with the latter taking her first List A wicket in a phenomenal bowling display. The Meteors were bowled out within 40 overs.