At Allan Border Field in Brisbane, Queensland Women put on a composed and clinical display to chase down 253 against the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Meteors, winning by five wickets in their Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025-26 fixture. It was a game that saw phases of dominance from both sides, but in the end, experience and composure shone through, as Georgia Redmayne guided her team home with 12 overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, ACT Women, after being asked to bat first, posted a competitive 252 for 9 in their 50 overs. The innings revolved around a superb knock from Grace Lyons, who carried her bat deep into the innings but fell agonisingly short of a century on 94 off 94 deliveries. Her innings, studded with 12 crisp boundaries, reflected poise and timing, as she held one end while wickets tumbled intermittently at the other.
The Meteors’ start was steady, though not explosive, as Carly Leeson (6) and Olivia Porter (16) fell cheaply, leaving the side under early pressure. Lyons, however, rebuilt the innings alongside Paris Bowdler, who played a lively hand of 42 off 37 balls to lift the tempo through the middle overs. A late flourish from Holly Ferling, contributing a valuable 40 off 65, ensured ACT crossed the 250-mark, though they couldn’t quite find the acceleration they wanted in the closing overs.
Queensland’s bowlers stuck to their plans effectively throughout the innings. Nicola Hancock emerged as the most successful bowler with 2 for 49 from 10, while Lauren Hamilton chipped in with 2 for 49. The spinners, led by Charli Knott, bowled tightly in the middle overs to keep the scoring rate under control. Despite Lyons’ fine effort, the Meteors total looked just below par on a true Brisbane surface offering even bounce and value for shots.
In reply, Queensland’s chase began steadily but not without early setbacks. Opener Lucy Bourke looked in good touch before falling for 25, while Charli Knott added 20, ensuring a positive start without allowing scoreboard pressure to build. The brief wobble came when skipper Jess Jonassen (5) departed cheaply, leaving Queensland at a slightly uncertain stage. But from there, Georgia Redmayne took full command of the situation.
The wicketkeeper-batter showcased her trademark calmness and ability to rotate strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking even when boundaries dried up. Her partnership with Sianna Ginger, who made a fluent 46, steadied the innings and pushed Queensland back on course. Once Ginger was run out, Redmayne shifted gears seamlessly, finding gaps at will and punishing loose deliveries with precision.
Redmayne’s century, her latest in a growing list of match-defining innings in domestic cricket, was a masterclass in pacing a chase. Her 105* came off 104 balls and included 13 boundaries, but more than the numbers, it was her control and temperament that stood out. Supported by the lower middle order, she guided Queensland to 253 for 5 in 38 overs, sealing a convincing five-wicket victory.
ACT’s bowlers, despite flashes of control from Leeson and Ferling, struggled to find breakthroughs at key intervals as the partnership between Redmayne and Ginger deflated their momentum.
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