Southern Stars easily dispose of MCC

The Australian women's team began their tour of England on Monday with an easy 142-run win over an MCC Invitational XI at Walker's Ground, Southgate, in north London.

The Australians made 251 for 9 in their fifty overs before dismissing the MCC for 109 in 44.4 overs.

Australian leg-spinner Olivia Magno took 6/34 from her ten overs after earlier scoring 34 runs before retiring. Opening batsman Louise Broadfoot and wicketkeeper Julia Price both made half-centuries for the Southern Stars before retiring, while Michelle Goszko scored 35.

The star for the MCC Invitational side was New Zealand all-rounder Haidee Tiffen, who top scored with 34 and took 2/46 from her ten overs. The MCC eleven also included Netherlands international Pauline te Beest, as well as a number of former England internationals and current members of their developmental squad.

The Southern Stars play two more warmup matches before the First Test in the CricInfo Women's Series against England begins at Shenley on Sunday. They return to Walker's Ground today to play an ECB Development XI, whom they will meet again at Radlett on Thursday.