Match no. 35 of the Women’s National Cricket League 2024-25 will take place at EPC Solar Park in Canberra on February 9, 2025, at 4:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST), between Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Meteors and Western Australia.
The ACT Meteors recent performances have been inconsistent, with two victories followed by three straight defeats. On the other hand, having won two and lost three of their past five games, Western Australia’s recent performance is similar to that of their opponents. The Meteors scored 208/7 in 50 overs in their most recent match, which took place in Canberra on February 7, 2025. Western Australia won by 6 wickets after successfully chasing down the score, reaching 209/4 in 46.4 overs.
Squads:
ACT Meteors:
Katie Mack (C), Alisha Bates, Paris Bowdler, Zoe Cooke, Grace Dignam, Holly Ferling, Angelina Genford, Amy Hunter, Carly Leeson, Grace Lyons, Shivani Mehta, Chelsea Moscript, Anesu Mushangwe, Olivia Porter, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Annie Wikman
Western Australia:
Chloe Piparo (C), Chloe Ainsworth, Emily Arlott, Charis Bekker, Zoe Britcliffe, Mathilda Carmichael, Maddy Darke, Bhavi Devchand, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Shay Manolini, Rebecca McGrath, Lilly Mills, Maddie White
Players to watch out:
Alisha Bates
The 22-year-old is an invaluable member of the ACT Meteors because of her versatility. With her reliable batting, she offers solidity in the middle order. She is also equally good with the ball, making breakthroughs when necessary. Though she hasn’t scored many runs of late, she scalped two wickets in her most recent outing and can be trusted for the goods.
Anesu Mushangwe
The 28-year-old talent leg-spinner is a dangerous bowler because of her ability to extract sharp turn and trick batters with her variations. She has taken 12 wickets in the competition thus far, from 9 outings, at an economy rate of 4.55, and registered the best of 3/48. The seasoned campaigner can be relied upon to lead the breakthroughs.
Maddy Darke
Maddy Darke, who provides dependability behind the stumps and consistency with the bat, is a vital member of Western Australia’s team. She is a versatile top-order hitter who can anchor an innings or accelerate when needed. In the competition thus far, she has amassed 239 runs, including two half-centuries.
Chloe Ainsworth
Chloe Ainsworth, 19, is a rising fast bowler who recently struck three wickets in five games in the U19 World Cup. She is a menace to opposing hitters because she produces good bounce and movement off the pitch. She is an important player because of her ability to strike early and keep tight lines in the last overs.
Pitch:
The fast and bouncy surface at Canberra’s EPC Solar Park is well-known for helping pacers. At this venue, teams have historically lost an average of nine wickets in the first innings, with an average score of about 195 runs. In the 2nd innings, with roughly 6 wickets lost, the average score drops to 188 runs in the second innings.
Weather:
Canberra is expected to see slightly warm to cold weather. The morning is likely to remain clear, but as the afternoon wears on, there is a potential that cloud cover will appear. The humidity is expected to be between moderate and high, and the game should not be significantly impacted, but there are chances of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Alisha Bates, Anesu Mushangwe, Maddy Darke, Chloe Ainsworth, Katie Mack, Carly Leeson, Amy Edgar, Holly Ferling, Mathilda Carmichael, Mikayla Hinkley, Zoe Cooke
Match details:
Date: February 9, 2025
Time: 04:30 AM IST
Venue: EPC Solar Park, Canberra
Broadcast: Available on cricket.com.au and Kayo Sports.
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