Rolton stars as SA ends NSW run
SYDNEY, Nov 10 AAP - Australia's leading female cricketer Karen Rolton made a sensational start to the new season as she helped end the lengthy unbeaten streak of women's national league champion New South Wales.
Adrian Warren
10-Nov-2002
SYDNEY, Nov 10 AAP - Australia's leading female cricketer Karen Rolton made a sensational start to the new season as she helped end the lengthy unbeaten streak of women's national league champion New South Wales.
Left-handed batter Rolton, the player of the series for the last two seasons, scored 102 and 59 as South Australia split its two weekend games with NSW at Adelaide Oval No.2.
"I'm probably not hitting them quite as well as I would like at the moment, it just helps the longer you stay out in the middle, the more runs you score," Rolton said.
"I'm happy to score 100 and a 50, I wish I could have gone on with a bit more today, but I'm pretty happy and I know there's a lot to work on and I'm not at my best yet," Rolton added.
It was the Blues' first national league loss in 16 matches stretching back to October 2000 and their first defeat by SA in 12 fixtures going back to February 1998.
Scorpions captain Rolton, who topped the series batting aggregate and average for each of the last two seasons, was the only SA player to score more than 30 in both of this weekend's games.
She struck 13 fours and a six yesterday, but NSW reached its target of 181 with 4.4 overs and five wickets to spare with rival skipper Julie Hayes scoring 58 not out.
In today's game, which SA won by 10 runs, Rolton found the boundary eight times but SA lost momentum after her dismissal in the 39th over and made a modest 9-139 from its 50 overs.
Spinner Lisa Sthalekar took 2-11 off her 10 overs and then top-scored with 28 in an opening partnership of 34 with her NSW and Australian teammate Lisa Keightley.
The Blues were tied down in the middle overs by SA's spin trio of Kris Britt (3-24 off 10 overs), Olivia Magno (1-19 off 10) and Shelley Nitschke (3-18 off 5).
Nitschke claimed three wickets in two overs as NSW subsided from 4-96 in the 40th over.
"NSW came out a bit different today, they weren't playing so many shots," Rolton said.
"We got a few wickets and then the pressure was mounting. The girls bowled and fielded very well. It was a great effort."
Rolton, who averages 122 in Tests, and 50 in limited overs internationals, also contributed with the ball over the weekend.
Taking the new ball, Rolton finished with the combined figures of 3-41 off 18 overs.
NSW, which has won the title in each of its six previous seasons, do not play again until next month while SA faces Queensland and WA opposes Victoria in the next round of games in a fortnight.