Molineux steers Country to victory

Chasing Metro’s target of 113, Country surpassed the total with several overs to spare in their 50-over encounter.

Gippsland Pride’s Molineux (110) and Central Highlands’ Kate Kile (15) set the tone early, combining for a 36-run partnership before Kile was run out by the Western Spirit’s Taylah Lynn.

Wickets continued to fall around Molineux, however, the left-hander showed enormous control, smashing 17 boundaries to steer the Country to victory.

The Northern Rivers’ Tayla Vlamenick also produced a handy cameo in the lower-order, adding 34 runs to the tally.

The South East Sharks’ Courtney Neale was the pick of the Metro bowlers, claiming 3-19 from eight overs.

Earlier, Molineux (3-9) and the Mallee Murray Heat’s Makinley Blows (3-7) tore through the Metro batting line-up, with Neale top-scoring on 22.

Country has a two-nil lead in the series with two Twenty20s being played today.

Meanwhile, in the Under-15 Country and Metro series, both teams have one win each.

Playing two Twenty20 matches in East Malvern yesterday, Metro claimed the first win of the day, reaching Country’s target of 5-92 with nine balls to spare.

The Inner East Emus’ Zoe Griffiths top scored with 25 with Country sharing the wickets.

In the second game of the day, Metro set a target of 7-82 with North East Knights’ Maddison Baird taking 3-6 from three overs.

The Country batting line-up were too good for the Metro, winning by seven wickets with the South East Sharks’ Sam Ryan top scoring on 21.

The Under-15 teams will face each other in a 40-over match today.