WA share spoils with Tasmania in WNCL opening round

Tasmania and Western Australia will share the spoils in the opening round of the Women's National Cricket League after the Tigers took game two by 26 runs.

WA could not have asked for a better start to the match, reducing the visitors to 3-0 after two overs with Chloe Ainsworth and Ebony Hoskin striking. 

But Tasmania's strong middle order responded, led by national team representative Nicola Carey, who hit 87. 

Ruby Strange made the important breakthrough taking the wickets of Carey and Nsomi Stalenberg (55) in one over breaking a stand of 156 run partnership. 

Chasing 300 runs, WA got off to a rocky start with opening batters Beth Mooney (16) and Chloe Piparo (16) falling cheaply. 

However, a 79-run seventh-wicket stand between Ainsworth (58no) and Alana King (37), and some woeful fielding from Tasmania, kept WA in the contest. 

WA fell 26 runs of the run chase, with Ainsworth and Hinkley (60) the pick of the batters and Strange picking up three poles. 

WA next play after the WBB break, taking on South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on December 14 & 16.