Nicole Bolton stars as Western Australia clinch their first WNCL title

Western Australia created history by beating New South Wales Breakers by 42 runs at North Sydney Oval on Sunday (February 16) in the final of Women's National Cricket League 2019-20. Nicole Bolton's allround effort helped Western Australia to their first title. She scored 67 runs and then picked up three wickets to restrict New South Wales to just 189.

Electing to bat first, Western Australia got off to a poor start as they lost skipper Chloe Piparo and Heather Graham for just zero and four respectively. Ashley Day and Bolton than resurrected Western Australia's inning by stitching together a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket. The duo played risk-free cricket before Day departed for 32.

From then on it was all about Bolton taking the innings further to a respectable score. She was well supported by Mathilda Carmichael, Megan Banting and Piepa Cleary, all of whom chipped in with useful cameos of 26, 22 and 20 runs respectively. Western Australia finished on 231. Rene Farrell was the pick of the bowlers for New South Wales with four wickets. She was well supported by Stella Campbell, who chipped in with three wickets.

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Chasing a competitive target, New South Wales got off to a decent start as their openers Rachel Trenaman (37) and Maddy Darke (36) put on a stand worth 64 runs. Western Australia, in search of wickets, turned to Emma King and Bolton, who responded by taking the wickets of Trenaman and Darke respectively.

From then on it was all about Western Australia bossing the game.

Their bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals and did not allow New South Wales to chase the target. Lisa Griffith (23) and Farrell (18) - playing her last game - tried to overhaul the target but the duo fell short of the target by 42 runs.

Apart from Bolton, Emma King and Graham too picked up three wickets.

Brief scores: Western Australia 231/10 in 50 overs (Nicole Bolton 67, Ashley Day 32; Rene Farrell 4-33, Stella Campbell 3-55) beat New South Wales Breakers 189/10 in 49.5 overs (Rachel Trenaman 37, Maddy Darke 36; Emma King 3-28, Nicole Bolton 3-34) by 42 runs. PoTM: Nicole Bolton.