Victoria show winning spirit to claim series

Victoria 6 for 159 (Broadfoot 29) beat New South Wales 109 (A Blackwell 24, Franklin 3-25) by 50 runs - Victoria won the series 2-1
Scorecard

Victoria staged a dramatic come-from-behind series victory to seal the Women's National Cricket League trophy against New South Wales at Bankstown Oval yesterday. After losing the first match in best-of-three competition, the Spirit charged home to win the second by five wickets and the third by 50 runs.

Batting first, Victoria cobbled together a hard-working 6 for 159 with no individual dominating as Louise Broadfoot (29), Mel Jones (28) and Belinda Clark, the captain, (26) made starts. Lisa Sthalekar and Julie Hayes both took two wickets to give their side a strong chance of winning their eighth title in nine seasons.

But the Breakers were upset by four run outs and never recovered from an awful start of 4 for 35. The openers Lisa Keightley and Shannon Cunneen were both run out and Alex Blackwell, the No. 6, was the only one to manage a lengthy stay with 24. Jane Franklin, the medium-pacer, then jumped in with three late wickets and Victoria celebrated.