The Women's National Cricket League is five years old, and today New South Wales won the title for the fifth time. The Blues continued their unconquered run in the national league today by beating the Queensland Fire by seven wickets to win the best-of-three final series at Bankstown Oval, Sydney, by two matches to nil.

After dismissing Queensland cheaply for 137 in 49.3, New South Wales took just 34 overs to complete the win, having claimed the first final on Friday by 33 runs. Belinda Clark top scored with an unbeaten 76 to take her side to a comprehensive win. Emma Liddell took three wickets to add to her four in the first final to take the award for Player of the Finals Series.

Queensland captain Julia Price won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Melissa Bulow (30) and Vanessa Pickering (20) made a spirited start against new-ball bowlers Calver and McGregor, adding 32 runs in the first seven overs. However, as in the first game, the double-change of bowlers put the brakes on the scoring. Frustration set in for Pickering, and with the score on 52 she drove Debra Nelson uppishly to Julie Hayes at cover.

Bulow fell in the next over, trapped lbw on the back foot by Hayes. The two form Queensland batsmen, Sally Cooper (14) and Julia Price (13) fell cheaply, the Fire collapsing at one point to 7/96. Some late-order hitting by Kelly Klibbe (19) and Angela Farrell (9, including the only six of the day), lifted Queensland to a total which was still at least fifty short of what they needed to set a challenging target.

Left-arm pacer Emma Liddell took 3/25 from eight overs to give herself seven wickets for the weekend, while off-spinner Sthalekar conceded 1/18 from her ten overs following her 0/20 on Friday.

Chasing 138 for victory, the Blues lost Lisa Keightley (4) in the sixth over in controversial circumstances. The Australian opener hit a catch to Pickering in the gully, which was given out by umpire Ron Furtner. After protesting that she had played a bump ball, the umpire reversed his decision and referred the matter to the third umpire, who confirmed that Keightley was out.

The New South Wales innings was dominated by their opening batsman and captain Belinda Clark, who scored a superb 76 not out, including eleven boundaries. Clark, who ironically lives in Victoria now but remains eligible to play for her state of origin, was well supported by Michelle Goszko (22) and Shannon Cunneen (16*). Swing bowler Cindy Kross (1/24 from ten overs) was the best of the Queensland bowlers, with Bronwyn Buckley (2/35 from nine) taking the wickets of Goszko and Sthalekar in the space of three deliveries.

Clark held the Ruth Preddy Cup aloft for the fifth consecutive year as NSW captain. With Emma Liddell taking the Player of the Finals award, South Australian all-rounder Karen Rolton was named Player of the Tournament, having scored 496 runs and taken 11 wickets in her eight appearances.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd