Katie Mack, Carly Leeson shine as ACT Meteors defeat Queensland Fire in WNCL opener

Chasing more than six runs an over, the Meteors openers Mack and Rebecca Carter kept a steady run-rate going right from the very first over. Mack, who took charge of the chase, made sure that they were scoring the occasional boundaries. The duo scored 66 runs for the first wicket before Carter was removed for 17 from 37 balls by Grace Harris.

Once Carter got out, Erin Osborne taking on the Fire's bowlers, and Mack was happy to play second fiddle. However, Charli Knott broke the partnership as the latter got out for 54 from 51 balls.

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Georgia Prestwidge dismissed Osborne for a 30-ball 41 and followed it up with the wicket of Erica Kershaw. Although Jess Jonassen got rid of Carly Leeson cheaply, Angela Reakes kept the innings going. She remained not out till the end with a 21-ball 23 along with Madeline Penna, who scored the winning runs for the Meteors as they chased down the target with five balls to spare.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, the Fire got off to a good start. Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll added 54 runs together before the latter got out to Leeson for a 28-ball 22. Leeson also removed Harris in her very next over. However, Mooney, at the other end, held the inning together and built a partnership with Jessica Jonassen.

She raced her way to a half-century by keeping the scoreboard moving with singles and doubles. With Jonassen, she added 49 runs in 42 balls for the third wicket. Mooney scored a run-a-ball 58 before Osborne dismissed her.

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Although Laura Kimmince fell shortly after, Jonassen, who was the aggressor in the partnership with Mooney, launched a counter-attack. Nevertheless, Leeson got her out for 38 runs from 29 balls. From 116 for two, the Fire went to 136 for five. They never recovered from the slump.

Amy Yates and Nicola Hancock made sure that the lower order did not cause any trouble to the Meteor by picking two wickets for each. The Fire scored 163 for nine in 25 overs. Leeson was the pick of the bowler with four wickets for 33 runs in her five overs.

Brief Scores:

ACT Meteors: 169/5 in 24.1 overs (Katie Mack 54, Georgia Prestwidge 2/33) beat Queensland Fire: 163/9 in 25 overs (Beth Mooney 58, Carly Leeson 4/33) by five wickets. POTM: Carly Leeson