Carey's century secures big chase for defending champions Tasmania

The WNCL summer of hundreds continued as Nicola Carey's unbeaten century guided defending champions Tasmania to a high-scoring win in their opening game of the season and left Annabel Sutherland with a second hundred of the tournament that has come in defeat.

Carey's 101 off 83 balls enabled Tasmania, the last team to get their WNCL season underway, to chase down what appeared an imposing 280 with 13 balls to spare at Junction Oval.

She came in after an excellent base had been laid by openers Elyse Villani and Rachel Trenaman with a stand of 95 in 19 overs with Carey then adding 65 with Villani.

The other crucial partnership came with Naomi Stalenberg as the pair added 82 for the fourth wicket and though Lizelle Lee, the former South Africa opener, collected a duck, Emma Manix-Geeves struck her first ball for four to secure the win.

Victoria captain Sophie Molineux had used nine bowlers by the 23rd over with Ellyse Perry sending down six overall as she continued her return to action.

Sutherland had gone one run better than her maiden century against South Australia but again came out on the wrong side of the result.

She arrived with Victoria wobbling on 2 for 12 after Makinley Blows fell first ball, driving a full toss to point, and Perry was bowled shouldering arms at Heather Graham.

The major stand came alongside Nicole Faltum for the fourth wicket as they added 111 in 24 overs before handy contributions from Kim Garth and Tess Flintoff - who hit 22 off 11 balls - kept the momentum going.

Sutherland eventually fell in the 48th over to give Graham her fourth wicket.