Australia’s domestic 50-over tournament for women’s cricket, the Women's National Cricket League is on the cusp of having a new champion, with Elyse Villani’s Victoria scheduled to lock horns with Queensland in the final on Saturday, March 27 at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
The Victoria captain, Elyse Villani, stays in the limelight as she needs just 37 runs to become the all-time highest run-scorer in a single WNCL season. She has scored 593 runs in eight innings including three centuries, so far. The record is currently held by Zoe Goss who scored 629 runs in the 1996-97 season.
Meanwhile, Annabel Sutherland is also in the spotlight. Sutherland, who was ruled out of Australia women’s tour of New Zealand due to a stress reaction in her thigh, was named in Victoria’s extended 15-player squad for the final on Friday.
The Women's National Cricket League 2021 started on January 29, with seven teams battling for the title. Victoria finished at the top of the table after eight games, with 26.5 points, and were followed by Queensland in second place with 21 points.
The Women's National Cricket League, since its inception in 1996-97, has been dominated mostly by New South Wales, who have won a record 20 titles. While Victoria are looking to win their first title in 15 years, Queensland have finished as the runners-up on five occasions.
Victoria vs Queensland WNCL full squads
Victoria squad: Elyse Villani (captain), Makinley Blows, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Bhavi Devchand, Elly Donald, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Zoe Griffiths, Ella Hayward, Anna Lanning, Courtney Neale, Annabel Sutherland, Amy Vine
Queensland squad: Georgia Redmayne (captain), Meagan Dixon, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, Laura Kimmince, Charli Knott, Lilly Mills, Georgia Prestwidge, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
The Women's National Cricket League final will start at 4:30 AM IST on March 27. Fans can visit SportsAdda for Victoria vs Queensland live scores.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @VicStateCricket
