A Player of the Match performance from Queensland seamer Zoe Cooke has seen the SA Scorpions fall to a three-wicket loss at Allan Border Field despite a strong performance from opening batter Emma de Broughe.
Cook collected five wickets for the Fire, including a hat-trick to complete the Scorpions innings, finishing with figures of 5-31 in a career best return.
Sent in to bat, the Scorpions lost Bridget Patterson in the opening over, but an 83-run partnership between de Broughe and Josie Dooley steadied the ship for the visitors.
Leg-spinner Grace Parsons then turned the game Queensland’s way with three quick wickets, sending Courtney Webb, Maddie Penna and Jemma Barsby back to the sheds in succession to have the scoreboard reading 5-117.
Amanda-Jade Wellington joined the set de Broughe and immediately began attacking the bowling, with the pair compiling a partnership of exactly 100 at just under a run-a-ball before Cooke began her lower order rampage.
Nine boundaries highlighted de Brough’s knock of 90 from 120, a fantastic performance in the face of consistent wickets at the other end, but it was unfortunately not quite enough as the Scorpions were bowled out in the final over for 231, a total which would prove short.
Wellington raised the bat for her own 50, brought up off 62 deliveries, but Cooke’s dominant spell saw five wickets, including the hat-trick, fall in the final five overs.
Strong digs from opener Georgia Redmayne (55 off 64), Lauren Winfield-Hill (48 off 73) and blaster Laura Harris (46 off 23, including four sixes) saw the Fire over the line, a victory that further strengthens their position at the top of the WNCL standings.
Courtney Neale and Penna each took two wickets during the Scorpions defence, but Queensland were able to bring up the winning runs with three wickets and seven overs in hand.
The Scorpions, who now sit fourth on the table, will face Queensland again on Sunday, with the clash looming as a must-win following today’s loss.