In the 2024-25 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) points table, Victoria, with 3 wins, is seeded 3rd, while the South Australian Scorpions, with 4 wins, despite a loss in their most recent game to Victoria, hold the top spot. The two teams will again go up against each other in match no. 17, on the 20th of December 2024, at 4:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST), at Junction Oval, Melbourne.
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:
Ella Hayward
The 21-year-old all-rounder in the WNCL last summer accumulated 209 runs from 9 innings, while taking 11 wickets from 12 outings. Ella made a promising start to this season, registering scores of 49 and 39, alongside bowling returns of 0/11 and 1/27 in the first-leg fixtures. Building on that, she scored 112* in her most recent outing, while also taking a wicket, and can be counted on for the goods.
Tess Flintoff
The 21-year-old all-rounder last WNCL season amassed 253 runs, at an average of 42.16, from 7 outings, and didn’t bowl. This season, while Tess has managed only 57 runs from 3 outings, she has picked up 4 wickets, at an economy rate of 5.06. She didn’t find much success in a recent T20 campaign but is a highly promising talent and should be backed to rediscover her footing.
Hollie Armitage
The 27-year-old English top-order batter had an outstanding start to this WNCL season, registering consecutive scores of 75 and 99, but failed to replicate this success in the T20 games, managing only 120 runs from 8 outings in a recent campaign. On WNCL return, while she was dismissed for 1, she is a seasoned campaigner and can be trusted to stage a quick turnaround, leading the scoring.
Amanda-Jade Wellington
The 27-year-old bowling all-rounder in the 2023-24 WNCL racked up 304 runs from 11 innings, while also taking 19 wickets from 12 outings, with respective bests of 73 and 4/50. While Amanda-Jade had a rare quiet patch in a recent T20 competition, she continues to excel in the WNCL, with 13 wickets from 5 outings this season, and can be relied upon for all-round efforts, including handy runs.
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 56% humidity.
Fantasy playing XI:
Bridget Patterson, Nicole Faltum, Ellie Johnston, Meg Lanning, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Jemma Barsby, Ella Hayward, Sophie Day, Eleanor Larosa, Milly Illingworth
Match details:
Date – December 20, 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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