QUEENSLAND has taken a massive step forward towards qualifying for the WNCL Final after defeating Victoria by seven wickets yesterday. Victoria first made 5/295 from its 50 overs, before Queensland then reached that target with 10 and a half overs to spare.

The home side could not have asked for a better start to its innings, putting on 197 for the opening partnership. Although scoring slowed significantly after that, that solid partnership that the openers put down really set the foundation for a really competitive total.

Unsurprisingly, it was the openers who top scored for Victoria, with Sophie Reid making 106 and Nicole Faltum finishing on 90. Meanwhile it was Queensland’s youngsters who shone with the ball, with Lily Bassingthwaighte, Georgia Voll (both two wickets each) and Sianna Ginger (one wicket) the ones to pick up the wickets.

In reply the Queenslanders also had a great start to their innings, with the two Georgias – Redmayne and Voll – putting on 114 runs for the opening partnership.

Another partnership of almost 100 runs accelerated the run rate later in the innings, so by the time third wicket Ginger fell, there was not too much left for Queensland to make, and Charli Knott and Laura Harris got the job done 10 balls later.

Voll was ultimately top scorer with 94, while Knott finished with an unbeaten 87, Redmayne made an even 50 and Ginger put on 40.

Meanwhile for the home side, Ella Hayward, Jasmine Nevins and Hasrat Gill were the only ones to pick up a wicket.

The result puts Queensland almost three games ahead of second placed New South Wales, but the Breakers have two more games to play than Queensland does.

Victoria meanwhile is only just over a game behind New South Wales, but with more game against Queensland and two games against reigning champions Tasmania ahead of them, the path to that final is not easy.