Tigers go top of the table with win over Queensland

The Tasmanian Tigers continued their winning ways, defeating their closest competitor, the Queensland Fire to move into top spot on the WNCL ladder.

Aided by a stunning knock from Lizelle Lee and a handy innings from Emma Manix-Geeves - the Tigers put on a healthy total and applied good scoreboard pressure to take control of the match.

Losing the toss, Elyse Villani and Lizelle Lee were sent in to bat, and immediately got to work. Lee played her typical aggressive brand and dealt almost solely in boundaries for the first section of the innings. 

Hitting to all areas of the ground, Queensland had no answer for Lee in the early stages, but the Tigers were dealt a blow when Villani was caught on 9, with Tasmania 1-65.

Nicola Carey joined Lee and played brilliantly as a foil, allowing the South African to continue her onslaught - but was caught off the bowling of Nicola Hancock on 35 with the Tigers in good stead at 2-143.

Moving into the 90s, Lee was within touching distance of a century before she was tragically caught behind on 97 - bringing a fabulous performance to a close. With 17 boundaries and a strike rate better than a run a ball, the opener had set the game up perfectly.

Naomi Stalenberg and Emma Manix-Geeves then created a partnership of their own, working together nicely to keep advancing the score. With the wicket in such good condition, the Tigers were acutely aware they would need close to 300, and despite losing Stalenberg (43) were able to get close to the mark, finishing 4-294.

Manix-Geeves played her role superbly to finish 70* - accelerating at the right time to push the score to a very defendable target.

With plenty of firepower in the sheds, the Fire came out swinging, going at 9 an over for the first portion of the game before Molly Strano made the big breakthrough in the sixth over, bowling Georgia Voll (12).

Georgia Redmayne and Lauren Winfield-Hill started their partnership brightly, but Carey broke through again - castling Winfield-Hill to create some momentum with the Fire 2-67. Carey struck again just four balls later to claim the prized wicket of Grace Harris for 1 - with the wheels beginning to fall off a little for Queensland.

Sasha Moloney was next to impact the game - trapping the set batter Georgia Redmayne lbw for a well made 45, before striking with the very next ball to remove the dangerous Laura Harris. On a hat-trick, Moloney had the Fire in all sorts at 5-95, but sadly couldn't snare the elusive third straight wicket.

Queensland managed to claw their way back into the contest a little through Charli Knott and Mikayla Hinkley (who scored 30 and 49 respectively) but it was all a bit too little, too late for the Fire - leaving themselves too much work to do late in the piece.

With three overs to spare, Hayley Silver-Holmes managed to take the final wicket, dismissing Queensland all out for 250 - giving the Tigers breathing room at the top of the WNCL table.

Full scorecard here


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