Lewis ton, three-fers by Maritz, Murray help Scorchers crush Typhoons

Fresh off ">a series-win against Scotland, Lewis continued her run-making ways, starring in a 106-run opening-wicket partnership with Leah Paul. This was after Scorchers opted to bat first. Paul was happy to play the second fiddle before being cleaned up for 29 by Rachael Delaney’s off spin.

Scorchers then lost Alana Dalzell (ten) early before Shauna Kavanagh got in the middle. The in form duo were happy to rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking along with the odd boundary, adding 74 together. Lewis brought up her ton in 109 balls and looked set to press on the accelerator. But a Georgina Dempsey ball proved to be a bit too quick for her and she was bowled for 115 off 121 balls.

Kavanagh, who played some fluent knocks against Scotland, made 34 off 50 balls before she became Orla Prendergast’s victim. However, a blitz from Sophie MacMahon (31 not out off 25) and Maritz (13 not out) helped Scorchers end up with five for 271 in their 50 overs.

Delaney, Dempsey, Prendergast, Celeste Raack and Zara Craig all returned a wicket apiece.

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The 272-run chase was always going to be a tall one for Typhoons and it got taller with Rebecca Stokell (four) bowled by Hannah Little in the very first over. Delaney and Louise Little then combined to add 75 runs for the second wicket.

While Ashlee King dismissed Louise for 34, Paul got into the act by sending Cecelia Joyce (four) to the dug out. Delaney then fell to Paul for 41 while Amy Hunter (seven) became Murray's third victim. At that point Typhoons were five down for 124 with 21 overs in the chase left.

What then followed was a collapse that few would have foreseen. Maritz picked up three wickets in the space of five balls, including back-to-back scalps to leave Typhoons on the brink. While she nailed the yorker on off stump to send back Raack (one), Prendergast (26 off just 23 balls) and Jane Maguire (zero) fell off successive balls.

Murray (three for 16) then finished things off in the very next over as Typhoons were bowled out for just 131. While Paul had figures of two for 38 to show for her efforts, Maritz gave away just ten in return for her three.

Brief Scores: Scorchers 271/5 in 50 overs (Gaby Lewis 115, Shauna Kavanagh 34, Sophie MacMahon 31*) beat Typhoons 131 all out in 31.3 overs (Rachael Delaney 41, Louise Little 34, Orla Prendergast 26; Lara Maritz 3/10, Cara Murray 3/16 by 140 runs