In a thrilling contest that went down to the wire, the New South Wales Breakers held their nerve to clinch a two-run victory over the Queensland Fire and take the best-of-three finals 2-1 at the North Sydney Oval.

Charlotte Anneveld, the right-arm medium pacer, snapped up 4 for 29 to dismiss Queensland for 144 in the 48th over after Jodie Purves and Julie Price had put on 59 for the sixth wicket. Chasing 147 to win, Purves and Price had come together following a collapse from 0 for 47 - thanks to Belinda Matheson (24) and Melissa Bulow (25) - to 4 for 58 at the hands of Lisa Sthalekar, the NSW captain, and Julie Hayes. Anneveld, taking a cue from her captain, then proceeded to wreck Queensland in a four-wicket burst.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, NSW were struggling at 4 for 40 after quick blows from Kirsten Pike (1 for 21), Tricia Brown (1 for 36) and Matheson (1 for 18). Sthalekar top-scored with 39 before Jane Wallace, the wicketkeeper, hit 31 as NSW were bowled out for 146 in 48.4 overs. Jude Coleman, who starred with 5 for 26 in Queensland's finals-levelling win yesterday, ripped through the NSW middle order with 4 for 28.