Sarah Coyte's dramatic five-wicket final over helps Tasmania clinch second consecutive WNCL title

Cricket is a game of anomalies where anything can happen at any time. One such incident from the cricketing world has come to light where five wickets fell in the final over as Tasmania pulled off a miraculous victory over South Australia to win the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) title on February 25(Saturday).

Tasmania emerged victorious in the final clash by defeating South Australia by one run (DLS Method) at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart. After they got bundled out for 264 batting first, South Australia were given a revised target of 243 runs from 47 overs. They were cruising for a win with just four runs required from the last over having five wickets in hand.

But a bizarre finish in the final over bowled by Sarah Coyte where she picked up three wickets and Tasmania suffered two run outs, gave the match a dramatic finish.

In the action-packed final over, Coyote first cleaned up Annie O'Neil off the first ball, who departed after scoring 28 off 20 balls. Two balls later she got the prized scalp of South Australia skipper Jemma Barsby, getting her out stumped. 

Coyote struck on the fourth ball as well but this time with the help of some luck as she got her hands on the ball struck straight to her by Ella Wilson which went on to hit the stumps at non-striker's end resulting in Amanda-Jade Wellington's run out.

She further trapped Ela Wilson in front of the stumps on the fifth ball leaving South Australia with three to get off the final ball. Anesu Mushangwe could only manage to get one off the last ball handing a thrilling win to Tasmania by one run.

Watch the dramatic final over here:

cricket.com.au@cricketcomau

One of the wildest finishes to a cricket match condensed down to a minute. You're welcome #WNCLFinal

05:09 AM · Feb 26, 2023

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With this win, Tasmania become only the second team to win back-to-back WNCL titles while South Australia finished as runners-up for the second year in a row.

Elyse Villani powered Tasmania to 264 with her magnificent hundred

In the first innings, Tasmania posted 264 runs in their allotted 50 overs on the back of a scintillating innings by captain, Elyse Villani, who scored 110 off 126 balls.

South Australia’s chase was constantly interrupted by rain throughout their innings. They were on the brink of victory at 220 for five before rain stopped play with six overs to go. Once the rain subsided, their target was revised to 243 in 47 overs. Courtney Webb was the top scorer for South Australia with her knock of 83 off 107. Sarah Coyote was deservedly awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for her spell of 4/30 in eight overs.

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