Larosa shines as Scorpions finish 2023/24 WNCL season

The SA Scorpions have had a disappointing end to their 2023/24 WNCL campaign, suffering a 70-run loss to New South Wales, but have seen a glimpse of the future with Eleanor Larsoa scoring her maiden WNCL half century.

Jemma Barsby won the toss and elected to field at Cricket Central, with Paris Hall coming into the team and taking the gloves.

The first half of the innings belonged to the NSW openers – they had a 118-run stand to begin the match.

South Australia required some magic to break the partnership and that was what they got, with Maddie Penna taking an absolute screamer in the outfield, her diving catch removing Claire Moore and giving Barsby her first wicket.

Georgia Adams picked up where Moore left off, until some nice keeping from Hall had her stumped, again off the bowling of Barsby.

Tahlia Wilson continued however and she brought up an impressive century, just before losing her wicket to Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Her job was done though, having batted almost 42 overs to take NSW to 3-217.

Regular wickets fell from then on, with Anesu Mushangwe and Sam Betts joining the wicket-takers list, but NSW still had a good total of 9-265 on the board at the end of their 50 overs.

It wasn’t a great start for the Scorpions in their run chase, as they slumped to 4-38 with Bridget Patterson making half those runs.

Courtney Webb gave some resistance, making 22 runs, but when she fell the Scorpions were in real trouble at 6-69.

Eleanor Larosa showed grit in partnerships with Wellington, Mushangwe and Kate Peterson and brought up her maiden WNCL half century.

She ended up top-scoring with 55, but it wasn’t enough as the Scorpions were bowled out in the 48th over.  

That signals the end of the 2023/24 WNCL season for the SA Scorpions and while the year didn’t pan out as they would have liked, it will bring great motivation to return better next season.

Thank you to all the Scorpions fans for all your amazing support throughout the year!