In a thrilling encounter at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, Queensland Fire Women achieved a nail-biting two-wicket victory over the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Meteors in the 11th match of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025–26.
This victory not only bolstered Queensland’s standings in the league but also showcased the fierce competitiveness of this season’s campaign. Both teams had different motivations going into the match: Queensland was looking to continue their winning start, while the Meteors aimed to secure a strong win to elevate their position.
On a bright Brisbane day, the match turned into a high-scoring spectacle, with both teams’ batting orders flourishing. Batting first, the ACT Meteors set a formidable total of 277 for 8 in their 50 overs. Their innings featured several solid performances, with Annie Wikman leading the charge. She scored a well-crafted 59 runs off 60 balls, combining crisp drives with smart placements.
Her partnership with Paris Bowdler, who contributed a quickfire 34 runs off 31 balls, helped ACT recover from a slow start. Carly Leeson (30 off 40) and Olivia Porter (29 off 24) were other key contributors. The star of the innings was Zoe Cooke, who finished with an unbeaten 60 runs off 61 balls, propelling the Meteors past the 270-run mark.
Queensland’s bowling attack had its moments amidst the Meteors’ batting rampage. Charli Knott was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 54 runs in her 10 overs, consistently testing the batters with her disciplined off spin. Lucy Hamilton provided key breakthroughs, while Courtney Sippel and Ellie Johnston kept things tight at the other end, preventing ACT from running away to an even bigger total. Despite the strong finish from the Meteors, Queensland felt confident in their batting depth and home advantage heading into their chase.
Unfortunately, Queensland’s innings started on a shaky note, losing early wickets and putting them in a precarious position at 24 for 2. Opener Georgia Redmayne, usually a reliable performer, was dismissed for just 7 runs, followed by Lucinda Bourke who managed only 13. However, experienced England international Lauren Winfield-Hill took control from there.
She delivered one of the standout innings of the season, remaining unbeaten on 101 runs off 87 balls, peppered with 15 boundaries and a six. Winfield-Hill’s commanding play and calm presence steadied Queensland’s chase, while Mikayla Wrigley supported her with a vital 56 runs off 72 balls. Together, they absorbed pressure and kept Queensland’s required run rate under control.
As wickets fell in the closing stages, Winfield-Hill remained composed, steering her side closer to victory. The middle order made important contributions, with Charli Knott scoring 24 runs off 33 balls and Ellie Johnston adding 15* runs off 19 balls. The match edged towards a tense finish, but Queensland ultimately reached the target in 49.1 overs, wrapping up the chase at 278 for 8.
For the Meteors, Grace Dignam bowled well, taking 2 wickets for 46 runs, and Carly Leeson also played a critical role with 2 for 50, but they couldn’t find a way to overcome Winfield-Hill’s resilience, who rightfully went on to earn the Player of the Match title for her century.
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