STRATHDALE-Maristians all-rounder Tayla Vlaeminck has played a key role in helping Victoria to its drought-breaking national under-18 female cricket championship victory. Vlaeminck opened the bowling in Tuesday’s final against New South Wales Metropolitan in Canberra and she didn’t let her team, taking 2-21 from eight overs as the Vics cruised to a 59-run win. The gran final triumph snapped NSW’s 12-year winning streak and was Victoria’s first under-18 female trophy in 16 years. After winning the toss and batting, Victoria posted 3-183 off its 50 overs. Skipper Sophie Molineux top scored with 59, while Georgia Wareham made 40. NSW Metro needed a good start with the bat to have any chance of knocking off the undefeated Vics, but Vlaeminck ensured NSW Metro were in for a tough day when she removed opener Clare Iemma for just six. Iemma had top scored for NSW Metro when the two teams met earlier in the carnival. Vlaeminck had figures of 1-11 from four overs in her first spell and she returned in the middle overs to remove the dangerous Mikayla Hinkley for 20. That wicket all but ended NSW Metro’s hopes of winning the game. Vlaeminck, who this time last year was recovering from a knee reconstruction, was one of Victoria’s best performers for the carnival. The Catholic College Bendigo student will return to BDCA action with the Suns under-18s this Saturday against Sandhurst.