Table-toppers South Australian Scorpions, unbeaten after four games, will face Victoria Women, who have lost both of their games so far, in match no. 15 of the ongoing 29th season of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL). The game will take place at Junction Oval, Melbourne, on the 18th of December 2024, starting at 4:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Victoria women’s cricket team
Nicole Faltum (C), Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Poppy Gardner, Hasrat Gill, Ella Hayward, Olivia Henry, Milly Illingworth, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Jasmin Nevins, Georgia Prestwidge, Sophie Reid
South Australian Scorpions cricket team
Jemma Barsby (C), Hollie Armitage, Emmerson Filsell, Paris Hall, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Courtney Neale, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Ella Wilson, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Players to watch out:
Nicole Faltum
The 23-year-old keeper-batter had a notable start to this WNCL season, registering scores of 68 and 10 in her two outings. High on confidence following a successful T20 campaign, where she accumulated 136 runs at an average of 27.20 and a strike rate of 134.65 from 8 innings, Nicole will be eager to continue this momentum. The seasoned batter can be trusted to lead the scoring.
Milly Illingworth
The 19-year-old pacer, from two outings in the 2024-25 WNCL so far, has scalped 3 wickets at an economy rate of 4.71. In a recently concluded T20 competition, Milly claimed 7 wickets from 9 outings, including the best of 2/15 and maintaining an economy rate of 6.65. She is a highly promising pacer, and it will be hoped she continues in this form, producing breakthroughs.
Courtney Webb
The 25-year-old top-order batter has accumulated 159 runs from 4 outings this WNCL season, at an average of 39.75, with the highest score of 53. Courtney showcased her best form in a recently concluded T20 tournament, amassing 258 runs at a strike rate of 120.56 from 10 outings. She can be relied upon to carry this momentum into the second leg of the WNCL fixtures, scoring big runs.
Eleanor Larosa
The 19-year-old all-rounder in this WNCL season, has bagged 7 wickets from 4 outings at an average of 17.85 and an economy rate of 4.09, while also contributing 63 runs from 3 innings. Eleanor stood out in a recent T20 competition, scoring 69 runs and claiming 9 wickets from 5 outings, including bests of 31 and 4/26. She has enjoyed a successful run of form and can be counted on for the goods.
Pitch:
The Junction Oval offers a batting-friendly surface, with an average score in the 270s, indicating favorable conditions for scoring runs. However, the wicket also provides assistance for bowlers, particularly pacers, who can exploit the conditions to their advantage.
Weather:
The conditions in Melbourne are forecasted to be ideal for cricket, with clear skies and no anticipated rain interruptions. The temperature will hover around 20°C, with moderate winds and 50% humidity.
Fantasy playing XI:
Bridget Patterson, Nicole Faltum, Meg Lanning, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Jemma Barsby, Maddie Penna, Hasrat Gill, Sophie Day, Eleanor Larosa, Milly Illingworth
Match details:
Date – December 18, 2024
Time – 4:30 AM IST
Venue – Junction Oval, Melbourne
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on cricket.com.au and will also be available on Kayo Sports.
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