19 November 2007 By Graham Croker
Universities Women’s Cricket Club members Kate and Alex Blackwell and Lisa Sthalekar helped NSW to wins over South Australia in the first two rounds of the 2007-08 Women’s National Cricket League played at Bankstown Oval on Saturday and Sunday.
NSW vice-captain Alex Blackwell top-scored with 75 not out and captain Sthalekar contributed 56 as the Breakers cruised to 3-168 in reply to South Australia’s 9-165 in the first of the 50-over fixtures.
Having won the toss, South Australian captain Karen Rolton had no hesitation batting first. She duly top-scored with 59 and passed 4000 one-day runs in the process as the Scorpions batted out the 50 overs.
On a good batting wicket, Rolton would have been hoping for a bigger total, but tight bowling, particularly from Stalker, who took 2-7 from 10 overs, kept the Scorpions in check.
NSW earned a bonus point by scoring the required runs in just 37.3 overs.
The tide seemed to turn in Sunday’s fixture when NSW were restricted to 148 off 49.1 overs. Alex Blackwell again top-scored, this time with 52, while Jenny Gunn (3-23) and Shelley Nietsche (2-28) kept a rein on the scoring.
Although she missed out with the bat, Stalker is never out of the game, and her 10 overs resulted in a miserly 2-9. With 17-year-old Elyse Perry taking 3-21 at the other end, the Scorpions were snuffed out for 123.
With the WNCL entering its 12th season, NSW are chasing a 10th title. Their two wins at the weekend put them is good stead of defending the 2006-07 championship.
Round 1
NSW 3-168 (Alex Blackwell (SU) 75no, Lisa Sthalekar (SU) 56, Kate Blackwell (SU) 11) d South Australia 9-165 (Karen Ralston 59, Jenny Gunn 36; Lisa Sthalekar (SU) 2-10) at Bankstown Oval on Saturday.
Round 2
NSW 148 (Alex Blackwell (SU) 52, Leonie Coleman 23; Jenny Gunn 3-23, Shelley Nietzsche 2-28) d South Australia 123 (Shelley Nietzsche 32, Kris Britt 20, Julie Werner 20; Lisa Sthalekar (SU) 2-9, Elyse Perry 3-21) at Bankstown Oval on Sunday.