The Queensland Fire have maintained their spot on top of the Women's National Cricket League ladder with a record run chase to defeat Victoria at the Junction Oval yesterday.
Fire Surge To Record Target
Queensland successfully chased down the Victoria total of 5-295 to cruise to 3-299 with 10.3 overs to spare in a dominant batting display. It was Queensland's highest run chase, eclipsing their previous best of 250 last year against Tasmania.
It followed two strong team batting efforts last week against South Australia when the Fire put on 7-327 and 5-312 against the Scorpions at the Adelaide Oval.
Returning Australian player Georgia Voll went agonisingly close to a century in her first game back for Queensland since making her national T20, ODI and Test debut during the Ashes whitewash of England.
Voll hit 94 from 75 balls as she and Georgia Redmayne, who added another 50 to her blossoming season aggregate, made the ideal start to their run chase at the Junction Oval.
The result was then iced by a conifdent 87no by Charli Knott, who followed up her maiden WNCL century last week in the series win over South Australia in fine style.
Knott and young gun Sianna Ginger (40 from 40 balls) took the visitors to within sight of the win before Laura Harris swiiftly hauled in the remaning runs with three boundaries in her 15 from 7 balls.
The seven-wicket win extends Queensland's lead at the top of the WNCL, and another win in their return clash tomorrow with Victoria will go a long way to claiming a spot in the WNCL Final next month.
Queensland's bowling was spread over seven bowlers with Australian Under-19 quick Lilly Bassingthwaighte snaring 2-37 while Voll picked up 2-55.