A dominant all-round display powered Queensland Women to a commanding victory over Victoria Women in the 40th match of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) in Brisbane on March 14. In a contest that swung heavily after the first innings, Queensland’s bowlers laid the foundation before their batters chased the target with remarkable ease, sealing the match by nine wickets with a staggering 211 balls remaining.
Victoria’s innings began cautiously after Queensland opted to field first, but the visitors soon faced early pressure from disciplined bowling. The opening partnership never truly settled as Ella Hayward was the first to depart, dismissed for 2 off 6 balls when Sienna Ginger struck early to leave Victoria at 1/9 in 2.3 overs. Skipper Rhys McKenna tried to stabilize the innings alongside Samara Dulvin, and the pair added 24 runs for the second wicket before Grace Harris’ sharp work in the field saw McKenna fall for 16 off 22 balls, caught by Harris off the bowling of Jess Jonassen at 33/2 in 7.3 overs.
With early wickets falling, Samara Dulvin attempted to anchor the innings while Olivia Henry played positively at the other end. The duo stitched together a 30-run partnership for the third wicket, giving Victoria a brief sense of stability. However, Queensland’s young spinner Charli Knott broke the stand by dismissing Henry for 19 from 22 balls, reducing Victoria to 63/3 in 14.1 overs. The momentum shifted further when Grace Parsons entered the attack and removed Tess Flintoff for 4 off 14 balls, leaving the visitors struggling at 72/4 in 17.3 overs.
The middle order collapse continued as Queensland’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Molly Strano fell cheaply for 0, caught by Ginger off Knott, and the wickets kept tumbling in quick succession. Parsons struck again to remove Zoe Samuel for 0, while Knott trapped Hasrat Gill shortly after, pushing Victoria deeper into trouble. Despite Sophie Reid’s resistance with 18 off 28 balls, the lower order struggled to build partnerships. Milly Illingworth added 9 runs from 34 deliveries, but Ruby Strange eventually wrapped up the innings when Illingworth was caught by Annie O’Neil. Victoria were eventually bowled out for 104 in 31.2 overs.
Queensland’s bowling unit was exceptional throughout the innings. Charli Knott delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 8 in 6 overs, showcasing superb control and variation. Grace Parsons supported her brilliantly with 3 for 34 from 10 overs, while Jess Jonassen’s experience was evident in her economical spell of 2 for 12 in 5.2 overs. Sienna Ginger chipped in with 1 for 15, and Ruby Strange picked up 1 for 9, ensuring Victoria never gained any real momentum.
Chasing a modest target, Queensland’s innings began confidently with skipper Georgia Redmayne leading from the front. Redmayne looked fluent early on, striking 22 off 28 balls and building a steady 49-run opening partnership with Jess Jonassen. Victoria managed their only breakthrough when Ella Hayward dismissed Redmayne, caught by Olivia Henry in the 9th over, but that proved to be the lone moment of success for the bowlers.
After the early wicket, Jess Jonassen and Charli Knott took full control of the chase. Jonassen anchored the innings with a composed 41 not out from 40 deliveries, striking five boundaries and rotating the strike efficiently. At the other end, Knott continued her outstanding day with the bat, smashing 31 not out from just 21 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Their unbeaten 57-run partnership ensured Queensland cruised to 106/1 in just 14.5 overs, completing the chase with remarkable ease.
Victoria’s bowlers struggled to apply sustained pressure during the chase. Tess Flintoff conceded 21 runs in 3 overs, while Zoe Samuel gave away 23 runs in her spell. Milly Illingworth was relatively economical with 0/13 from 3 overs, and Hayward claimed the lone wicket. However, the target proved far too small to defend as Queensland’s batters dictated the tempo throughout.
With a stellar all-round performance, 31* with the bat and 3/8 with the ball, Charli Knott was deservedly named Player of the Match. Queensland’s comprehensive victory further strengthened their position in the Women’s National Cricket League, highlighting the depth and balance in their squad. For Victoria, the match served as a reminder of the importance of building partnerships and handling spin better, especially against a well-drilled Queensland attack.
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