Haynes, Campbell ransack ACT Meteors as NSW Breakers make it three-in-three in WNCL 2021-22

Put into bat by her opposite number Angela Reakes, Haynes started with an edged boundary through thirdman off Nicola Hancock in the second over. She found two more boundaries before Breakers lost their first wicket in the form of Tahlia Wilson in the ninth over for just six.

Although Breakers lost Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner for similar scores and were reduced to 58 for three, Haynes in the company of Erin Burns took the score to 118. Post the dismissal of Burns for 34 off just 26 by Carly Leeson in the 25^th over, the southpaw found another good company in Anika Learoyd and added 61 runs for the fifth wicket.

However, Amy Yates struck thrice – Learoyd was dismissed for 30 and Sammy-Jo Johnson, Maitlan Brown scored ducks - in the 37^th over to leave Breakers reeling at 179 for seven. When their score reached 203 for seven in 41.5 overs, rain intervened and Haynes was batting on 94.

Once they came back, 35-year-old Haynes completed her ninth WNCL ton and post that she and Hannah Darlington took on the Meteors’ bowlers on their way to a strong finish. Darlington hit Yates for a consecutive boundary and a six before falling to Leeson in the next over.

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In the 49^th over, Haynes smashed Yates over long-on for a six before becoming her fourth victim as the left-hander fell for 118 off 132 balls. Breakers couldn’t bat out their entire 50 overs as Lauren Smith was dismissed with the penultimate ball of the innings. Their eventual score read 260 all out from 49.5 overs.

For Meteors, Yates picked up four wickets, while Leeson contributed with three scalps.

Stella Campbell © Getty Images/ Women's CricZone

In the chase, Meteors were never in the game with Brown striking early to remove in-form Katie Mack for just one in the third over. Campbell started her magnificent spell by dismissing other opener Leeson for 12 in the sixth over. Soon Meteors were reduced to 23 for three with Brown accounting for the experienced Erin Osborne.

From there, there was no recovery for the ACT side as the tall Campbell ran through the side with some incisive bowling. She had Meteors skipper Reakes nicked behind for six and Hancock fell two deliveries later. In her eighth consecutive over, the 19-year-old castled Kayla Burton to take her fifth wicket and finished of the innings in the same over with two more scalps. She finished with incredible figures of seven for 25 – second best in the history of the competition – from her eight overs.

Brief Scores: New South Wales Breakers 260/10 in 49.5 overs (Rachael Haynes 118, Erin Burns 34; Amy Yates 4/56, Carly Leeson 3/42) beat ACT Meteors 53/10 in 16 overs (Carly Leeson 12; Stella Campbell 7/25, Maitlan Brown 2/18) by 207 runs. POTM: Stella Campbell