A match-winning knock from second-gamer Annie O’Neil has lifted the Queensland Fire to back-to-back wins to open their WNCL season.

O’Neil steered Queensland to a two-wicket win over Western Australia to continue the Fire’s unbeaten start to the season with a brace of day/night wins at the WACA.

O’Neil hit 86no from 77 deliveries as Queensland reeled in WA’s 5-272 with 16 balls to spare, aided by No.10 Nicola Hancock’s 11no.

O’Neil had earlier shared a crucial 99-run sixth-wicket stand with experienced former England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill (59), but when Queensland lost 3-35 to slip to 8-235, WA had looked in the box seat before Hancock’s steady hand helped O’Neil seal victory.

The pair put on an unbeaten 42 ninth-wicket stand to take the points which came off the back of another fine contribution from allrounder Sianna Ginger (44) and O’Neil showcasing the attacking game that caught the eye of Queensland selectors last month in the KFC T20 Max competition.

O’Neil, who played 36 games for South Australia, was uncontracted through the preseason, but made her debut for Queensland in Wednesday’s opening game of the season, having earned a shot with the Fire following an impressive KFC T20 Max campaign for Western Suburbs earlier this month

O’Neil finished with 231 runs at 77.

She eclipsed her career highest WNCL score of 74 last night, as Queensland fought doggedly in their run chase.

 

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