The Western Fury opened their 2008-2009 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) campaign in sensational style, overcoming championship fancies the SA Scorpions in both one day encounters in Perth over the weekend.

The first clash at Aquinas College Oval on Saturday 29 November, saw the Scorpions win the toss and bat first, and they flew out to a healthy 1-150 after 30 overs in ideal batting conditions.

The Fury had early chances in the field but couldn’t convert them in an intense first few hours of play.

Current Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and Scorpions Captain Karen Rolton (95) was in superb touch and helped push her team’s total past the 200 mark.

WA medium pacer Amanda Williams (1-31) bowled a crucial spell late in the innings, along with Rene Chappell (1-40) which put the pressure on South Australia.

Williams made the crucial breakthrough, snaffling Rolton as the momentum swung in the Fury’s favour.

Extra pressure applied in the field by WA resulted in some run-out opportunities, with Chappell sharp around the stumps to catch two Scorpions batters short of their ground.

South Australia lost their last four wickets for 31 runs to slump to 8-221 at the change of innings.

Fury skipper Avril Fahey (2-32) lead the way with the ball and got great support from Jenny Gunn (2-43), Lauren Ebsary and Rene Farrell who were unlucky to not pick up a wicket.

The WA run chase started in sensational fashion with Fury openers Angele Gray (47) and Lauren Ebsary (32) smashing the ball to all areas of the park.

Their healthy partnership came to an end with the score on 58 after just 10 overs, giving the Fury a great platform to chase down the Scorpions’ total.

Fury top order bat Peta Merilees (32) showed great composure to play an excellent anchor role in the middle of the innings to help keep the chase on track.

But it was Rene Farrell (29 not out) and Jenny Gunn (24 not out) who stole the show, combining with the score on 6-177 to steer the home side to safety and a first up win in the 2008-2009 WNCL.

Both sides buttered up again at Richardson Park on Sunday 30 November for the second scheduled 2008-2009 WNCL match between the two states.

The Scorpions won the toss and elected to bat which turned out to be a disastrous decision as they could only manage 98 runs.

Julie Woerner (29) and skipper Karen Rolton (22) were the only SA batters to put on significant runs, as the Fury sniffed a chance to clinch back to back wins.

All the Fury bowlers got involved in the wickets, with current Southern Stars squad member Renee Chappell (3-19) claiming the best figures of the day in an eye catching display.

Fury Captain Avril Fahey (2-7), Jenny Gunn (2-13) and Chappell’s Australian team-mate Rene Farrell (2-23) helped complete the remarkable rout of the crow eaters.

Angele Gray (49) and Lauren Ebsary (13) stamped their authority on the run chase early and set the Fury on the road to victory.

It was left to Peta Merilees (23 not out) and Jenny Wallace (4 not out) to steer the side home in emphatic fashion by eight wickets and 166 balls to spare.

The Western Fury now face a crucial away clash with competition bench mark NSW, in their next round of WNCL action from the SCG on Saturday 6&7 November 2008.