The South Australian Scorpions have begun their WNCL season perfectly, taking two bonus point victories in their double-header against the ACT Meteors at Karen Rolton Oval.
Following a dominant seven-wicket win to open the summer on Friday, the Scorpions sent the Meteors back to the nation’s capital winless on Sunday thanks to a 101-run triumph bathed in a perfect spring sun.
Electing to bat first in game two, Bridget Patterson and Emma de Broughe again provided a solid platform, compiling 52 runs before the first wicket fell, that of de Broughe for a rapid 28.
Patterson hit seven boundaries on her way to a second consecutive half-century, eventually falling to Carly Leeson for 52.
It was reigning WNCL Player of the Year Courtney Webb who took control of the innings, masterfully amassing 76 from just 78 deliveries, dispatching the ball to the rope nine times.
Some big hitting towards the back end of the innings saw the home side to a total of 7-267 from their 50 overs, a total they would be confident of defending given the quality and depth of their bowling unit.
Veteran quick Holly Ferling was the pick of the bowlers for the ACT, collecting 4-54 from her full complement of overs, supported well by Leeson with 2-38.
ACT’s innings started well, with openers Rebecca Carter and Kayla Burton blunting the Scorpions international attack spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown.
South Australian skipper Jemma Barsby then gave the Meteor’s a chilling reminder of her Player of the Match performance from the season opener, taking a wicket in her first over to get the ball rolling.
When Amanda-Jade Wellington found a way through the defences of ACT captain Katie Mack, the game had turned in the favour of the Scorpions and the visitors were never able to wrestle back control.
Steady wickets fell across the innings, led by Wellington’s 3-32 from eight overs. Brown returned to the attack in the latter stages to seal the win, sending Annie Wikman and Olivia Porter back to the sheds in the 32nd over.
Fans at Karen Rolton Oval were brought to their feet twice during the second innings as a result of stunning catches in the field, first by Patterson and then Barsby.
The first was a remarkable diving effort at first slip off the bowling of Wellington, with Patterson reeling the kookaburra in at full stretch and horizontal to the ground, even finding time to crack a smile on the way down.
For Barsby, it was a looping ball hit over her head and to the right of her position at mid-off that sparked a magic moment. Sticking her right hand in the air, Barsby plucked the ball out of the air and didn’t let go, raising it to the sky in celebration as teammates chased her across the turf.
South Australia now turn their attention to Round Two of the WNCL, with Western Australia journeying to Adelaide for a double header on Tuesday, October 10 and Thursday, October 12.