Tasmania finishes WNCL campaign with another loss after failing to land decisive blow with the ball
For the second time in three days Tasmania’s female cricketers found themselves in a strong position defending a low total, only to let a dominant position slip from their grasp.
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TASMANIA’S inability to land the knockout blow with the ball has surfaced again as the Tigers crashed to a season-ending WNCL defeat in Canberra.
Two days after going down to powerhouse NSW on the last ball of the match — having reduced the Breakers to 4-35 defending an even 200 — the Tigers were again in a similarly strong position against the ACT.
After compiling 198 at Philip Oval, Tasmania’s new ball pair Belinda Vakarewa (3-35) and Samantha Bates (2-28) had the hosts in all sorts of trouble at 4-30 in the ninth over when Bates removed Katie Mack and Anna Lanning in the space of three deliveries.
However Erica Kershaw led the rescue mission for the ACT, compiling 69 and adding 76 for the fifth wicket with Claire Koski (27) before Sarah Coyte finished her work with an unbeaten 48.
Coyte hit the winning runs by sweeping spinner Maisy Gibson to the boundary to secure her side victory with 21 balls spare.
Earlier it was Emma Thompson-Flint who set up Tasmania’s total with a well compiled 70 from 116 balls.
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Thompson-Flint struck nine boundaries and had the visitors on track for a decent total before she was run out in the 44th over.
Her saw a collapse of 6-23 with Sasha Moloney (34) departing three balls later before the tail folded meekly.
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After narrowly missing out on reaching the final last season the Tigers finish 2019-20 in second last with just two victories — both over wooden spooner South Australia.
NSW will fight it out for yet another title against Western Australia in next weekend’s final.
adam.j.smith@news.com.au
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