The Australian Capital Meteors (ACT) Meteors Meteors come into this second consecutive clash against Victoria with all the momentum after securing their first win of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2025-26 in clinical fashion. Victoria’s struggles have deepened, as they now sit at the very bottom of the table with five losses from five matches and a net run rate that has slipped to -1.651. While the Meteors have jumped to fourth place with 5 points, Victoria remains the only side yet to get off the mark, making this a high-stakes must-win for them to keep their season alive.
Squads:
Australian Capital Territory Women’s Cricket Team
Annie Wikman, Olivia Porter, Rachel Carroll, Shivani Mehta, Carly Leeson, Georgia Elwiss, Grace Dignam, Stella Wilde, Zoe Cooke, Grace Lyons, Paris Bowdler, Amy Hunter, Anesu Mushangwe, Angelina Genford, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Holly Ferling
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
Players to watch out:
Nicole Faltum
Nicole Faltum has been the steady hand for Victoria during a difficult season, consistently proving her value as both a captain and a middle-order anchor. In her 4 matches so far, she has compiled 154 runs at an average of 38.50, including a magnificent 102 that remains the highlight of her summer. While her strike rate sits at a composed 71.63, her ability to build innings under pressure and her flawless work behind the stumps continue to make her the heartbeat of the Victorian side.
Annie Wikman
Annie Wikman has emerged as a major bright spot for the Meteors, playing with an aggressive intent that has breathed life into their top order. Across her appearances this season, she has amassed 136 runs, headlined by a crucial 62 during a successful chase that helped her team secure a vital win. Her ability to find the boundary—tallying 15 fours and a six—combined with a healthy strike rate of 98.33, makes her one of the most dangerous strikers in the ACT lineup.
Sophie Day
Sophie Day remains a vital tactical weapon for the Victorian bowling attack, often tasked with drying up runs during the middle overs. In her 4 outings this season, she has managed to claim 4 wickets, with her best performance being a tidy 2-wicket haul that kept her team in the hunt. While she hasn’t yet found a massive bag of wickets, her persistence and ability to chip in with late-order runs show she is a competitor who never gives up on a contest.
Zoe Cooke
Zoe Cooke has been the spearhead of the ACT bowling department this year, consistently finding ways to break through opposition defenses. She currently leads her team’s wicket charts with 7 scalps, maintaining an impressive average of 21.00 and the best of 3 for 47. Her knack for taking wickets at crucial moments has been a game-changer for the Meteors, proving that she is a bowler who thrives when the pressure is highest.
Pitch:
Phillip Oval offers a balanced surface with true bounce that rewards well-timed shots, making it suitable for medium-scoring games in domestic cricket. Fast bowlers benefit from seam movement and bounce with the new ball, while longer square boundaries assist in containing batters.
Weather:
Canberra will experience mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching up to 21°C and lows around 10°C, following recent warm days. Light winds from the east at 15-20 km/h and low rain chance under 5% suggest ideal conditions for cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Annabel Sutherland, Ella Hayward, Georgia Wareham, Nicole Faltum, Milly Illingworth, Sophie Day, Annie Wikman, Rachel Carroll, Zoe Cooke, Grace Lyons, Amy Hunter
Match Details:
Date – January 8, 2026
Time – 4:30 AM IST
Venue – Phillip Oval, Canberra, Australia
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on cricket.com.au app and website.
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