The second match of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025-26 brings together Victoria Women and the New South Wales Breakers at Junction Oval, Melbourne, on 26th of September 2025. Both teams will look to kickstart their campaigns strongly in this high-stakes domestic contest, aiming to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Squads:
Victoria Women’s Cricket Team
Indigo Noble, Meg Lanning, Mia Perrin, Olivia Henry, Samara Dulvin, Annabel Sutherland, Ella Hayward, Georgia Wareham, Hasrat Gill, Rhys McKenna, Tess Flintoff, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Reid, Georgia Prestwidge, Kim Garth, Milly Illingworth, Molly Strano, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Day, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck
New South Wales Breakers Women’s Cricket Team
Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Elsa Hunter, Frankie Nicklin, Katie Mack, Phoebe Litchfield, Tara French, Ash Gardner, Caoimhe Bray, Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns, Alyssa Healy, Kate Pelle, Tahlia Wilson, Hannah Darlington, Jade Allen, Lauren Cheatle, Maitlan Brown, Samantha Bates, Sarah Coyte, Sienne Eve
Players to watch out:
Nicole Faltum
Nicole Faltum is a promising right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, having established herself in domestic cricket with teams like Victoria and Melbourne Stars. In the 2024-25 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Faltum played 12 matches for Victoria, captaining the side and delivering a strong performance throughout the season. She scored 438 runs at an impressive average of 36.50. She will be key for them this season too going forward in the season.
Meg Lanning
Meg Lanning, Australia’s legendary batter, has played 103 Women’s ODIs, amassing 4,602 runs at a stunning average of 53.51. She holds the record for the most ODI centuries with 15 hundreds, and 21 fifties, with the highest score of unbeaten 152. She made history with the fastest century in women’s ODI cricket, scoring 100 runs in just 45 balls against New Zealand in 2012. Although she retired from international cricket in late 2023, Lanning continues to play top domestic cricket.
Samantha Bates
Samantha Bates had an active 2024-25 WNCL season for New South Wales, appearing in 13 matches. As a left-arm spinner, she took 19 wickets at an average of 24.89 and an economy rate of 3.90, making her one of the top bowlers for NSW. With the bat, she scored modestly, maintaining a batting average in the low 20s. Bates’ consistent bowling performances were crucial in shaping matches during the season, highlighting her role as a frontline spinner for her team.
Lauren Cheatle
Lauren Cheatle had a strong 2024-25 WNCL season representing New South Wales, playing 10 matches and emerging as a key left-arm fast bowler for her team picking 14 wickets with the ball. She maintained an impressive bowling economy of 4.36 and strike rate 27.50, contributing significantly to NSW’s campaign, where they won the WNCL title. Cheatle is also named captain for the 2025-26 WNCL season, reflecting her leadership qualities and important role in the squad.
Pitch:
The pitch at Junction Oval, Melbourne, is known for being balanced, generally offering good bounce and carry for fast bowlers, while also providing fair assistance to spinners as the game progresses. It tends to favor batting in the initial stages with decent pace and bounce, making it suitable for stroke play.
Weather:
The weather is cloudy and breezy with temperatures around 13°C. The forecast indicates occasional afternoon rain on match day, breezy conditions in the afternoon, and mainly cloudy skies over the weekend. The weather is generally cool with a consistent cloud cover.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Anika Learoyd, Lauren Cheatle, Meg Lanning, Samara Dulvin, Ella Hayward, Tess Flintoff, Molly Strano, Nicole Faltum, Caoimhe Bray, Katie Mack, Ella Hayward
Match Details:
Date – September 26, 2025
Time – 5:30 AM IST
Venue – Junction Oval, Melbourne
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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