South Australia Scorpions pulled off a thrilling one-wicket victory against Queensland Fire in a closely fought Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) encounter on 22 January 2026. After winning the toss, South Australia Scorpions elected to field first, a decision that eventually paid dividends despite a determined batting effort from Queensland Fire.
Queensland Fire began steadily but lost early wickets that prevented them from building sustained momentum at the top. Georgia Redmayne and Mikayla Wrigley fell cheaply, putting pressure on the middle order. Lucinda Bourke and Sianna Ginger tried to stabilise the innings with useful contributions, but it was Annie O’Neil who anchored the Queensland effort with a composed knock of 36 from 42 balls. Her innings ensured Queensland Fire remained competitive even as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
The standout performance for Queensland Fire came from Ruby Strange, who top scored with a well-paced 39* off 54 deliveries. She showed patience and shot selection, guiding the lower order and pushing the total towards respectability. Grace Parsons also chipped in with a brisk 26, while Laura Harris provided late impetus with a rapid 22 off just 13 balls. Despite these efforts, Queensland were bowled out for 194 in 42 overs, a total that looked defendable but not imposing on a good batting surface.
South Australia’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Darcie Brown was impressive with the ball; she took 5 wickets, while Jemma Barsby kept things tight during the middle overs and took 3 wickets. Regular breakthroughs ensured Queensland never fully ran away with the game, setting up an intriguing chase.
In reply, South Australia’s innings mirrored the tension of the match. Early wickets put them under pressure as Bridget Patterson and Emma de Broughe departed cheaply. Courtney Webb then played a crucial knock, top scoring with a gritty 50 from 67 balls. Her innings was the backbone of the chase, absorbing pressure and keeping South Australia in the hunt during a tricky phase.
Madeline Penna added valuable support with a fluent 37, while Hollie Armitage’s 21 and Amanda Jade Wellington’s quick 16 kept the required run rate within reach. However, Queensland struck back through disciplined bowling, particularly from Sianna Ginger as she took 4 wickets at the economy of 3.50 and Nicola Hancock, who ensured the contest went down to the wire as she took 2 crucial wickets.
With wickets falling and tension mounting, Eleanor Larosa held her nerve at the end, remaining unbeaten on 25 off 41 balls. Her calm presence proved decisive as South Australia edged past the target, finishing on 195 for 9 in 43 overs. The final stages were filled with drama, but South Australia managed to cross the line with one wicket to spare.
The match was a fine show for the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), showcasing resilience, depth, and composure under pressure. South Australia Women’s ability to stay calm in a tight chase ultimately made the difference, sealing a memorable victory in a contest that could have gone either way.
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