After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, reigning premiers NSW reached a formidable 3-303 after their 50 overs, thanks to sensational centuries from Alex Blackwell (138) and Lisa Sthalekar (108 not out).

 

Blackwell was named Player of the Match for her brilliant innings, which included 18 boundaries and came off just 143 balls. It was her second ton of the season.

 

And the powerful right-hander found the perfect sparring partner in Sthalekar, who herself hit well over a run a ball with 108 from only 93 deliveries.

 

Coming together at the crease in the 19th over with their team on 2-74, the classy duo ripped the scoreboard open, adding a massive 228 runs, to topple the previous WNCL record for the third wicket, which was also set by NSW against WA in 2004.

 

Blackwell finally fell to Fury spinner Jess Moyes, who finished with 1-50 off eight overs. While WA all-rounder, Lauren Shave (1-56 off 10) ended opposition opener Leah Poulton's innings on 10 and Kate Burns effected a run out to end Alyssa Healy's stint on 28.

 

In reply, Vice Captain Rene Farrell (52) reached her half-century to be the best of the Fury batters, while Captain Peta Merrilees (36 not out), wicket-keeper Jenny Wallace (28) and Lauren Stammers (25) also posted decent scores.

 

But the opposition's attack, led by Ellyse Perry who took 2-29, proved too strong for the home side, which finished their innings on 6-176.

 

The two teams meet again in the second match of their double-header at Aquinas College tomorrow, beginning at 10.00am, before squaring off in a Twenty20 curtain-raiser to the Warriors-Bushrangers KFC Big Bash match at the WACA Ground on Sunday afternoon.