The NSW Breakers confirmed their status as the most powerful team in Australian women’s cricket with a five-wicket victory over the Western Fury in Saturday’s Twenty20 final at the WACA Ground.
Chasing 127 for victory, the Breakers reached 5-130 with four balls to spare, with Leah Poulton (41 off 31) and captain Alex Blackwell (40no off 38 balls) playing crucial roles in the win.
The Breakers entered the match having won the past eight 50-over titles, but their bid to win the T20 competition had been thwarted by Victoria in each of the previous three finals.
The Fury battled hard and had their moments, but couldn’t match the overall class of a Breakers outfit featuring nine players with international experience.
Such was NSW’s depth, they were able to easily cover for absent quick Ellyse Perry, who chose to play in her W-League semi-final for Sydney FC instead of appear for the Breakers.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Fury posted 5-126, with captain Nicole Bolton (41 off 40), Suzie Bates (41 off 48) and Jenny Wallace (24 off 16) the chief run scorers.
Breakers medium pacer Sarah Coyte finished with figures of 2-18 off four overs to help rein in the Fury after their promising start.
NSW’s run chase got off to a flyer, with the hot favourites reaching 0-42 after five overs.
But the loss of some key wickets brought the Fury back into the match, with the Breakers requiring nine runs from the final two overs to secure victory.
A boundary from Nicola Carey eased the pressure, before Blackwell hit the winning runs with a thumping four down the ground.