A crucial batting partnership and 20-year-old debutante kick started the ACT Meteors' dream start to the WNCL season.
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The Meteors beat Victoria by 18 runs in rainy conditions at Adelaide on Sunday, after the match was reduced to 33-overs per side due to a three-hour delay.
Victoria won the toss and elected to bowl, taking down the Meteors' opening batter Claire Koski after 24 balls.
But a 98-run partnership between Anna Lanning and Katie Mack, who scored 63 runs, salvaged the Meteors' innings and led them to a competitive 168 haul.
"That partnership was crucial after we lost an early wicket" Meteors coach David Drew said.
"We thought [168 runs] was going to competitive and turned out it was. It was a pleasing team effort today."
Victoria struck back when veteran Elyse Villani and Makinley Blows returned to the crease to bat.
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The pair complied an 88-run partnership but three quick wickets orchestrated by Amy Yates, Madeline Penna and Carly Leeson, sealed the victory for Canberra.
Yates, playing her first ever WNCL match against her home-state, took a catch, did a run-out and got a wicket.
"Yates got our first wicket and was the catalyst for their downfall," Drew said.
"We really held them back and they did get away but their run-rate wasn't too high. We knew if we got one wicket then the rest would fall, which they did.
"It's not only contribution with the bat that's important but the field as well. We kept it nice and tight, and basically fielded them out of the game."
Yates was one of four debutantes who played the season opener with fast-bowler Maitlan Brown nursing a shin injury and Angela Reakes ruled out after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.
"It shows the strength and culture we have within the group," Drew said.
"They're a great bunch of girls and just want to play for each other and Cricket ACT."
The Meteors will play South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval on Tuesday. The Scorpions fell to reigning champions NSW Breakers in the last over on Sunday, despite Tahlia McGrath and Bridget Patterson scoring half-centuries.
AT A GLANCE
WNCL Round 1: ACT Meteors 6-168 (Mack 63, Lanning 46) bt Victoria 4-148 (Villani 41, Blows 48, Sutherland 35*)