DEC Spirit emerge as T20 Champions for 2011

Captain Rachael Haynes won the toss and elected for Victoria to bat first – posting an impressive 5/161 thanks largely to a cavalier 74 from teenager Meg Lanning.

The 18-year-old’s innings came in just 56 balls and underpinned Victoria’s innings.

Lanning’s knock included seven fours and a six.

The right-hander received vital support from team-mates Jess Cameron (26 from 20 balls) and Sarah Elliott (23 from 23 balls).

The match went down to the final ball where NSW needed a six for victory. But last year’s runners up could only manage two runs as they finished on 9-157.

Victoria looked like cruising to victory before Leah Poulton belted 76 from just 45 balls.

But Lanning again had a significant impact on the match when she took a diving catch at deep midwicket to dismiss the dangerous Poulton.

That dismissal in the 16th over triggered a collapse of 5-18 which ultimately left the Breakers’ tail-enders with too much to do during the final overs.

It was the first of two finals the Breakers and Spirit will contest this summer.

Next Saturday (February 12) they meet again in the 50-over competition final at the SCG. NSW are the defending champions in this competition having won the past five titles.