New SA recruit stars in run chase against ACT
IN the second fixture in three days between these sides, it was the South Australian Women who chased down the ACT Meteors’ total with 7.3 overs spare.
Player of the Match, Ellie Johnston (65 not out) played a terrific innings, taking her new side to the top of the WNCL ladder at the conclusion of the opening round games.
It was Johnston’s highest score and first half-century, a 51 ball-inning which included three consecutive boundaries off pacer Holly Ferling to seal the deal.
After taking two wickets in the bowling innings, captain Jemma Barsby (28no) stuck with Johnston in the middle until the target was reached, providing the goods with bat and ball again.
Their seventh wicket partnership providing 63 runs for the home side.
Winning by four wickets, the SA Women came back when it looked like ACT might have had their measure at Karen Rolton Oval.
It was Courtney Webb that truly started to change the tide, hitting an aggressive 53 off 56 balls. Before her it was Bridget Patterson‘s 42 off 45, that solidified their run rate.
When comparing the two games, it was a more competitive affair on Sunday with ACT staying in the contest for longer. Meteors All-rounder Carly Leeson was the best of the bunch notching up 71 runs not out from 101 balls to close the innings.
For the SA bowlers, it was the efforts of Amanda-Jade Wellington (2-33) and Eleanor Larosa (3-30) that did the damage.
With ACT wickets falling in clumps, they did not get a partnership going that took them to a total they could ultimately defend, despite the best efforts of Annie Wikman (32 off 33) and Ferling (25 off 47).