Vics v. NSW - Women's cricket finals

[Donny]

Batting depth difference: Clark

Fox

RUN-MACHINE Belinda Clark points further down the Victorian batting order when explaining what will make the difference in the national cricket league finals.

Clark's Victorian Spirit will defend their title against arch-rivals the New South Wales Breakers in the best-of-three one-day finals series, starting tomorrow at the MCG.

The Victorian captain and No.3 batsman top-scored with 83 in the first final last season against the Breakers.

But she said the sort of innings Megan Pauwells (then Foster) played in that match will again make the difference.

Clark and opposing captain Julie Hayes agree the two teams are so strong and well-matched that their lesser-credentialled players would probably decide the title.

"Megan (6no) hit the winning runs when we probably looked gone for all money," said Clark of the three-wicket win.

"In each match someone has stood and done something not expected of them."

While NSW will target Clark, Hayes said her team are stressing the need for a strong all-round effort.

"At a crucial time, it could be someone chipping in with 10 runs or a wicket," said Hayes.

Clark said the other key to this series will be winning tomorrow's first game.

"History shows the team which wins the first game wins the championship, so you've got to make a good start," she said.

The Breakers boast seven national squad members, while Victoria have four.

The two teams have dominated the women's national league since it started in 1996-97, with NSW winning the first six titles and Victoria breaking that run last season.

"Every game we play, it's always really close," said Hayes of the rivalry with Victoria.

"Even in the six years we won the title, we had really close contests."

Victoria and NSW had the first tie in the league's history this season, while the Spirit won their other game by four wickets with only six balls to spare.

"It's probably still an arm wrestle – it was probably a shock that we won the title last year, though not to us," said Clark.

"It was seen as quite an upset.

[Donny]

The Vics won the toss and sent NSW in to bat.

Cathy Fitzpatrick took a wicket in the first over and it's 1/20 in the 4th.
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Fitzpatrick, at 36, is still rocking them down and has 2/13 from 5 overs. Jodie Dean just took a wicket. From her 4 overs, she has 1/5.

NSW are 3/73 in the 22nd. over.
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Dean claims her second wicket as NSW go to 4/89. Lisa Keightly is 41 n.o.
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After 36 overs, it's 5/110 with Keightly on 50 n.o.

[Donny]

All out for 128 in the 46th. over.

Fitzpatrick took 3/13 from 8 overs, Dean, 2/27 from 10 and Megan Pauwels finished off the tail with 3/7 from 4.1.

Keightly made an excellent 60.

[Donny]

The Vics are 0/18 in the 6th. over. Clarke is 14 n.o.
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They won with 9 balls and 6 wickets to spare. Clark made 38 and Appleby and Fitzpatrick added an unfinished 53 run partnership to get their team home.

[Donny]

NSW won the toss and will field in the second final.

[Donny]

A slow but solid start by Victoria.

They are 0/22 after 10 overs.
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Sarah Andrews took 2 wickets and the Vics are 2/31 after 16.
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It's now 2/50 after 23 overs with Belinda Clark on 29. The NSW attack looks to be on top but the Vics have wickets in hand.
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3/104 after 38 overs with Clark on 51 n.o.
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Clark went for 52 and Applebee and Fitzpatrick have lifted the scoring rate to 3 r.p.o., overall. With 6 overs to come, they're 4/133.
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Victoria made 162 and Calver took 3/38

[Donny]

NSW are chasing well and are 2/79 after 31 overs.
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NSW won by 5 wickets with 12 balls to spare. Fitzpatrick got 1 wicket and there were 4 run outs.

Shannon Cuneen top scored with 48.

[Donny]

NSW secure another women's league title

Wisden Cricinfo staff

New South Wales regained the women's national league title, beating Victoria by three wickets in the third and deciding final at the MCG. It is the seventh time in eight seasons NSW have won the title after Victoria's success last season.

New South Wales were always well-placed in their run chase on the back of an opening stand of 119 from Lisa Keightley (75) and Shannon Cunneen (54). Victorian quick Cathryn Fitzpatrick (3 for 3 struck back late with three wickets in three overs, but the NSW middle-order bats took on the fielders, and fumbles followed as run-out chances dried up.

Victoria's captain Belinda Clark made 115 - the third time in the finals series she top-scored for her side, and along with Fitzpatrick (24 not out from 23 balls), steered her side to what looked an imposing total.

But Keightley, who has forced her way back into the national side after reversing her decison to retire from internationals, was always confident the target could be reached. "Being an older member of the side I had to go out there and be positive and show the younger ones we can get it if we bat that way, and Shannon and I got a really good partnership which set us up," she said. "I was a bit disappointed when I got out [caught sweeping in the 38th over] - I thought it cost us - but we got over the line, so it just shows we've got depth all the way down. To come back losing the first day is awesome. Any team that does that, it shows a bit of character."

Clark was named player of the finals after top-scoring for Victoria in all three matches, but was left bemoaning some lax fielding in her side's two losses the past two days. "Today that was enough runs to win this game," she said, "and we let them get away with too much."