The NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport) Blues have defeated the Queensland Fire by 33 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three final series of the 2000-01 Women's National Cricket League at Bankstown Oval, Sydney, today.

A powerful 80 by former Australian batsman Michelle Goszko, playing on her home ground in grade competition, carried the Blues to an impressive fifty-over total of 5/234 after NSW captain Belinda Clark won the toss and elected to bat.

Goszko shared a third-wicket partnership of 116 with Lisa Sthalekar (43) to lift the Blues' scoring rate in excess of 4.5 per over.

Pace bowlers Tricia Brown (2/57) and Kelly Klibbe (2/58) had the most success for the Fire, while Cindy Kross bowled her ten overs unchanged for the figures of 0/16. But the NSW bats always looked comfortably on target for a 200-plus score.

Vanessa Pickering (35) and Melissa Bulow (37) made an impressive start to Queensland's pursuit of 235 in the early overs, however the introduction of slow bowlers Hayes and Sthalekar to the NSW attack but the brakes on the scoring.

When both openers were removed, Queensland were 2/80 in the 30th over and well behind the required run-rate. Sally Cooper (78 not out from 60 balls) played a superb knock, hitting two big sixes, but had little support. The last five wickets fell for 12 runs with the chase beyond Queensland's reach, the Fire all out for 201 in 48.3 overs.

Left-arm pace bowler Emma Liddell (4/33) was the most successful of the NSW bowlers, while Lisa Sthalekar bowled ten overs of tidy off-spin to concede 0/20. Bronwyn Calver claimed 3/48, but suffered an injury to her left thumb late in the game when taking a return catch to dismiss Cindy Kross.

New South Wales have won the Women's National League in each of the last four seasons and will be looking to another win over Queensland tomorrow in the second final to make it five in a row. Queensland, the only side to beat the Blues in the round-robin series this season, need a victory tomorrow to take the finals series into a third day on Sunday.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd