ACT Meteors produced a composed and confident all-round performance to chase down a competitive target and defeat Tasmanian Tigers Women by five wickets with 56 balls to spare in Match 27 of the 2025-26 Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) at Bellerive Oval. The contest flowed through contrasting phases, shaped by two commanding centuries and disciplined bowling spells that kept the game alive deep into both innings.
Tasmania Tigers lost Hayley Silver-Holmes early for 7, bowled by Zoe Cooke, but the innings quickly found its backbone in Rachel Trenaman. The opener played a commanding knock of 103 off 115 balls, pacing the chase with assurance. She was joined by Elyse Villani, and together they forged the match-defining partnership, adding 122 runs for the second wicket. Villani’s composed 50 off 71 balls complemented Trenaman’s stroke-filled innings perfectly, taking ACT to 140 before Villani was caught by Rachel Carroll off Cooke.
Even after Trenaman’s dismissal at 199, bowled by Cooke in the 40th over, the Tigers never lost control. Kathryn Bryce (23 off 24) and Courtney Sippel (15 off 25) chipped away at the target, while Maisy Gibson remained unbeaten on 11. Despite Tasmania striking intermittently, Cooke finishing with four wickets and Carly Leeson claiming 2 for 49, ACT’s depth ensured calm progression. Ava Curtis was run out, and Mia Barwick fell late, but the finishing touches were applied by Grace Lyons and Rachel Carroll, guiding Tasmania to 238 for 9 in 50 overs.
In reply, ACT Meteors’ innings was anchored by a captain’s knock of real substance from Olivia Porter, who once again underlined her value at the top. After an early setback with Carly Leeson departing for 28 off 38 balls at 101, Porter settled into a fluent rhythm. She found a reliable ally in Paris Bowdler, and the pair added a steady partnership that rebuilt momentum before Bowdler fell for a brisk 13 off 13 balls, caught off Maisy Gibson and bowled by Kathryn Bryce at 118. Porter continued to dictate terms, rotating the strike smartly and punishing loose deliveries, as Tasmania crossed the 150 mark.
The middle overs saw Porter stitch another vital stand with Georgia Elwiss, whose patient 28 from 45 balls allowed the Meteors to stabilise again. That partnership carried Meteors to 193 before Elwiss was bowled by Kathryn Bryce in the 31st over. Porter brought up a well-earned century, her 107 coming off 104 deliveries at a strike rate of 102.88, before she was dismissed at 221, caught by Elyse Villani off Mia Barwick. Lower-order contributions from Annie Wikman (7), Grace Lyons (17* off 22), and Rachel Carroll (13* off 17) ensured the Meteors comfortably over the line.
Tasmania Tigers’ bowling effort was led superbly by Kathryn Bryce, whose figures of 3 for 34 from 10 overs proved decisive in breaking key partnerships. Maisy Gibson and Mia Barwick chipped in with a wicket apiece. Courtney Sippel, Hayley Silver-Holmes, and Callie Wilson provided support spells.
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