Match 5 of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025–26 sees Victoria Women and New South Wales Women lock horns for the second time this season, setting the stage for an intriguing early rivalry.
Their first clash came in Match 2, where New South Wales Women held their nerve to secure a 3-wicket win with 23 balls to spare, underlining their depth and composure in pressure situations. While New South Wales will be keen to build on that momentum and strengthen their standing in the competition, the opposition will be eager to bounce back quickly, having learned valuable lessons from the earlier encounter.
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:
Tahila Wilson
Tahila Wilson was undoubtedly the star with bat in hand in the 2024-25 WNCL season, finishing as the top run scorer. She amassed an impressive 667 runs from 13 innings with a fantastic average of 55.58 while showcasing her consistent form over the course of the season. Her form was the foundation of her team, making her one of the most dependable batters in this season.
Anika Learoyd
Anika Learoyd had a breakout season as the second-highest run scorer in the 2024 WNCL. She scored 577 runs from 13 innings at an outstanding average of 48.08. The ability to stabilise an innings or accelerate as needed has proved to be invaluable for her side and she will want to replicate that form into ongoing season.
Ella Hayward
Ella Hayward emerged as a vital weapon for Victoria Women in the 2024 WNCL season, demonstrating her right-arm off-break bowling skills. She ranked fourth overall for the most wicket-takers in the competition with 21 wickets in her 12 innings played during the WNCL season, averaging 21.95 and an economy of 4.45. In addition, she had a notable season as she scored 446 runs with an average close to 41.
Nicole Faltum
Nicole Faltum also had a significant impact with the bat for Victoria Women in the 2024-25 WNCL season and showed a great deal of consistency and adaptability. She scored a total of 438 runs in her 12 innings at an average of 36.50 with a strike rate of 75.25 and strode to the forefront often in pressure situations. Nicole added great value to the Victorian batting line with her ability to stabilize the innings.
Pitch:
The pitch at Junction Oval, Melbourne, will favour batters early on, as the ball comes on nicely on the bat, aiding in decisive stroke play. However, as the game progresses, spinners also get fair assistance to spinners.
Weather:
The weather is cloudy and breezy with temperatures around 16°C. The forecast indicates occasional afternoon rain on match day, breezy conditions in the afternoon, and mainly cloudy skies over the weekend.
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 28, 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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