Grace Stars As Fire Move Up

The Fire defeated three-time champions Tasmania yesterday after losing a rain-affected clash on Sunday at Allan Border Field against the Tigers.

Queensland now sits on top of a tightly congested ladder, one point ahead of South Australia and two points ahead of NSW.

The Fire have four regular season games left, all away, as they take on South Australia and Victoria.

Harris was both measured and destructive as she helped to rebuild the Fire innnings with Charli Knott (58) and then accelerated the scoring with sister Laura (33 from 12 balls) as she powered to a commanding 140 from 78 balls.

Queensland was dismissed for 293 from 43 overs, and for a time in the Tigers innings, the failure to bat out the 50 overs threatened what had seemed to be a comfortable victory.

Allrounder Nicola Carey (120) and Emma Mannix-Geeves (80) put on 165 for the fifth wicket as the visitors steadily whittled down the target.

The match went down to the final overs, before Courtney Sippel (3-66) claimed the last Tigers wicket to dismiss them for 280, just 15 runs short of victory.

Queensland's win was the perfect rejoinder after they stumbled to a loss on Sunday as they battled rain and a run chase shaped by the DLS method.

The Fire had dismissed Tasmania for 198, with first-gamer Lilli Hamilton nabbing 2-10 and Knott claiming 3-39.

A half century to Georgia Redmayne gave the home side a launching platform, but with Carey bowling a fine spell, the experienced Tigers outfit was able to take wickets regularly as the conditions worsened.

Queensland was ultimately dismissed for 155.