The highly anticipated Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025-26 Match 13 features Tasmania Tigers against Queensland Fire at the batter friendly Bellerive Oval on January 4, 2026. Both sides boast strong all-round depth and recent form, promising a competitive clash on a pitch known for true bounce early and steady scoring opportunities.
Tasmania Tigers enter with a balanced squad led by captain Elyse Villani, relying on explosive batting partnerships and versatile bowling. Their campaign has emphasized top order aggression and spin options suited to Bellerive’s later slowdown.
On the other hand, Queensland Fire brings momentum through all-round firepower. They aim to exploit powerplay bounce while building patiently as conditions evolve. Their middle-order provides stability, positioning them well for high-scoring encounters.
Squads:
Tasmania Tigers Women’s Cricket Team
Elyse Villani (C), Naomi Stalenberg, Tabatha Saville, Rachel Trenaman, Ruth Johnston, Emma Manix-Geeves, Lizelle Lee, Amy Smith, Callie Wilson, Courtney Sippel, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lauren Smith, Maisy Gibson, Sara Kennedy, Kathryn Bryce, Nicola Carey, Ava Curtis
Queensland Fire Women’s Cricket Team
Annie O’Neil, Laura Harris, Lucy Bourke, Georgia Redmayne (wk), Lauren Winfield-Hill (wk), Mikayla Wrigley, Bonnie Berry, Jess Jonassen (C), Lily Bassingthwaighte, Nicola Hancock, Charli Knott, Lucy Hamilton, Sienna Ginger
Players to watch out:
Elyse Villani
The 36-year-old right hand batter and right arm fast medium all-rounder has 603 runs at an average of 21 and strike rate of 78 in 34 ODIs, plus 7 wickets. She recently led Hobart Hurricanes to WBBL glory, where she scored 146 runs across 11 matches.
Lauren Smith
Right-hand batter and right-arm off-break bowler, Smith shone in the recently concluded WBBL season with 7 wickets in 11 outings, at an economy of 6.40, adding bowling efficiency to Tasmania’s attack.
Lucy Hamilton
The 19-year-old left-hand batter and left-arm fast bowler also appeared in WBBL 11 where she claimed 8 wickets in 9 WBBL matches, emerging as a key threat and can prove herself as a key factor for the Queensland side.
Nicola Hancock
Right-hand batter and right-arm medium pacer, Nicola added 4 wickets and 50 runs in 7 WBBL outings this season. She remains a key asset to the team, providing crucial lower order contributions and giving breakthroughs.
Pitch:
Bellerive Oval favors batters with true bounce and consistent carry early, slowing later to demand patience. Average innings score around 251 rewards steady builds and powerplay aggression, with around 8 wickets typically falling.
Weather:
Cool conditions prevail with minimum 11°C and maximum 19°C, 19% precipitation chance, 81% humidity, and winds at 14 km/h, setting up for uninterrupted play.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Elyse Villani, Lauren Harris, Georgia Redmayne, Sienna Ginger, Nicola Hancock, Lucy Hamilton, Lauren Smith, Kathryn Bryce, Nicola Carey, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Mikayla Wrigley
Match Details:
Date – January 4, 2026
Time – 4:30 AM IST
Venue – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on cricket.com.au.
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