On October 9th, 2025, at Cricket Central in Sydney, New South Wales Breakers and Western Australia produced a nail-biting finish in the ongoing Women’s National Cricket League, where the Breakers narrowly defeated Western Australia by just six runs. It was a thrilling contest that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
The Breakers won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a challenging target of 298 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs. Anika Learoyd played a spectacular innings, scoring 108 runs off 118 balls, which not only earned her the Player of the Match award but also laid the groundwork for a defendable total.
Opener Katie Mack was equally impressive for her proactive 85-ball 69, while fellow opener Tahlia Wilson had departed for 1. Claire Moore (50 off 57), Georgia Adams (28* off 25) and Maitlan Brown (20 off 10) were crucial later in the innings, lifting the team to post a challenging 298.
Western Australia began their chase confidently, with captain Chloe Piparo (22 off 21) and Maddy Darke sharing a 61-run opening stand. After Piparo’s dismissal in the 9th over, Maddy Darke stepped up with a composed 73 runs off 87 balls, hitting six beautiful boundaries and proving to be the backbone of the innings.
Darke received solid support from Mikayla Hinkley, who contributed 57 runs off 65 balls. Their partnership was crucial, showcasing intelligent placements and quick running between the wickets, and it genuinely kept Western Australia’s hopes alive.
Mathilda Carmichael joined the fray next, adding 57 runs off 65 balls, displaying impressive adaptability and determination as the innings progressed. A mix-up led to a run-out involving Bhavi Devchand (33), and quick wickets followed for Carmichael and Darke, which proved vital in shifting the momentum back to New South Wales. On the brink of victory, Western Australia collapsed under pressure, losing 4 wickets for 10 runs, including the set batter Hinkley.
New South Wales’ fielding was exceptional, with sharp ground fielding and accurate throws creating constant pressure. The bowlers maintained a strict line and length, which forced WA to take unnecessary risks to find boundaries.
In the end, Western Australia finished their innings at 292 for 8, falling just six runs short of victory. This match beautifully illustrated the fine margins that define elite-level cricket, showcasing resilience, tactical execution, and those small, pivotal moments that can change the outcome.
Loves all things female cricket