South Australia fell 52 runs short against Western Australia at the WACA in their opening WNCL clash of 2026.
Darcie Brown’s brilliant new-ball spell helped restrict WA to 243, but a challenging period in the middle-overs saw SA bowled out for 191.
Having won the toss and electing to bowl, Brown ripped through the WA top-order with the new ball. She bowled eight overs on the bounce, conceding just 30 runs, while dismissing three of WA’s top four. Tahlia McGrath chipped in with 2-40 as well, and at one stage the hosts were teetering at 4/52.
Captain Jemma Barsby was the pick of the bowlers with her 3/28, stifling the batting side late in the innings, after WA fought back in the middle-overs.
Chasing 244 to win, SA lost a few early wickets but Courtney Webb and Tahlia McGrath combined for a 59-run partnership to help their side. Webb batted beautifully for her better-than run-a-ball 58 as she found the fence on ten occasions.
Hollie Armitage joined McGrath but the Australian vice-captain fell soon after for 28.
Barsby and Armitage then added 42 but once the skipper was dismissed, SA were soon all out, 52 runs short and with the overseas star stranded on 39*.
South Australia will meet WA again on January 10, aiming to square the ledger.