Beth Mooney scores first WNCL century for Western Australia in record-breaking demolition

It hasn’t taken Beth Mooney long to start breaking records for West Australia, smacking a huge century in her second match for the state.

New state, same old Beth Mooney.

The 28-year-old has broken the West Australian record for highest individual score in the WNCL, smacking an unbeaten 151 against the ACT Meteors in Perth on Sunday.

Mooney, the No. 1 ranked batter in women’s T20Is, guided the West Australians to an imposing first-innings total of 6/297 at the WACA, cracking 13 boundaries in her 140-ball onslaught.

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After combining with captain Chloe Piparo for a 99-run partnership for the first wicket, the talented left-hander reached triple figures in 109 deliveries before accelerating in the death overs.

Mooney passed the previous Western Australian record, Elyse Villani’s 142 against Victoria in November 2015, in the 47th over.

Moons is an absolute 🌟

Her first #WNCL hundred in the ⚫🟡 was all class #WESTISBESTpic.twitter.com/BOBrQK5num

— WACA (@WACA_Cricket) September 25, 2022

After 11 successful seasons with the Queensland Fire, Mooney signed for Western Australia during the off-season and made her WNCL debut for the state on Friday, scoring 17 in the side’s eight-wicket victory over the Meteors.

But she only needed to wait 48 hours for her first century in yellow and black.

“Anytime you can add an international player to your list is obviously a huge benefit and at the moment it looks like we’ll have Moons for a decent period of time over summer,” West Australian coach Becky Grundy said earlier this year.

“Even taking away the stuff she brings on field, getting her around the girls for a few blocks of time is massive. It’ll give her the chance to impart her knowledge.”

Mooney, who has represented the Perth Scorchers since 2020, is the highest run-scorer in Women’s Big Bash League history with 3674 runs at 47.10.

Over the winter, she won a gold medal representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and played for the London Spirit in The Hundred women’s competition.

Beth Mooney of Western Australia. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Elsewhere in the WNCL, Queensland all-rounder Grace Harris cracked a blistering half-century against New South Wales at North Sydney Oval, helping the Fire claim a comprehensive eight-wicket victory on Sunday.

After the Breakers were rolled for 155, with seamer Georgia Prestwidge claiming 3/28 from eight overs, Harris raced to fifty in just 33 deliveries as Queensland chased the target within 20 overs.

The 29-year-old struck 12 boundaries and two sixes, finishing 77 not out after combining with Queensland opener Georgia Redmayne for an unbeaten 143-run partnership for the third wicket.

Originally published as Beth Mooney scores first WNCL century for Western Australia in record-breaking demolition