New South Wales Breakers head into this Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2026-27 clash sitting pretty at the top of the standings with 5 points and a massive net run rate of +3.380, having claimed a bonus-point victory in their opening outing. On the flip side, Queensland Fire are down at the bottom of the table in 6th spot with 0 points and a NRR of -3.380 after taking a heavy hit in their first fixture.
Squads:
New South Wales Breakers Women’s Cricket Team
Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Elsa Hunter, Frankie Nicklin, Katie Mack, Phoebe Litchfield, Tara French, Ash Gardner, Caoimhe Bray, Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns, Alyssa Healy, Kate Pelle, Tahlia Wilson, Hannah Darlington, Jade Allen, Lauren Cheatle, Maitlan Brown, Samantha Bates, Sarah Coyte, Sienne Eve
Queensland Fire Women’s Cricket Team
Annie O’Neil, Laura Harris, Lucy Bourke, Charli Knott, Lucy Hamilton, Sianna Ginger, Georgia Redmayne, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Mikayla Wrigley, Bonnie Berry, Jess Jonassen, Lily Bassingthwaighte, Nicola Hancock
Players to watch out:
Phoebe Litchfield
Phoebe Litchfield got her WNCL campaign off to a brisk start for New South Wales Women, scoring 68 runs off just 56 deliveries. Operating at a lively strike rate of 121.42, she found the boundary regularly, cracking 13 fours without hitting a single six. Her knock gave New South Wales a strong platform, showing off her signature fluent strokeplay early in the competition.
Georgia Voll
Representing Queensland Women, Georgia Voll set a solid early foundation with a fine half-century in her opening game. She scored 83 runs off 95 balls, balancing control with intent as she smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes. Operating at a strike rate of 87.36, Voll’s innings was crucial in steering the Queensland batting lineup.
Samantha Bates
Samantha Bates delivered a masterclass in spin bowling for New South Wales Women, claiming 5 wickets for just 40 runs in her 10 overs. Maintaining an exceptional economy rate of 4.00, she kept the opposition quiet while making vital breakthroughs. Her strike rate of 12.00 underlined just how lethal her spell was in setting up her side’s bowling effort.
Kazuma Kato-Stafford
Young Queensland Women bowler Kazuma Kato-Stafford turned heads with a brilliant spell, taking 4 wickets for 25 runs in just 5 overs. She bowled with impressive control and sharp strikeability, holding an economy of 5.00 and an incredible strike rate of 7.50. Her 4-fer immediately established her as a real threat in the Queensland attack.
Pitch:
Cricket Central in Sydney Olympic Park features a modern, purpose-built surface designed primarily for high-performance training, pathways, and domestic fixtures. Batter-friendly true pace allows for strokeplay once players get accustomed to the fresh grass cover, while seamers can extract light early assistance under humid conditions.
Weather:
The forecast for Sydney promises bright, sunny skies with a high of 20°C and a low around 12°C, accompanied by light to moderate northeasterly winds and negligible chance of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Elsa Hunter, Frankie Nicklin, Katie Mack, Phoebe Litchfield, Annie O’Neil, Laura Harris, Lucy Bourke, Charli Knott, Sianna Ginger
Match Details:
Date – October 1, 2026
Time – 5:30 AM IST
Venue – Cricket Central, Sydney, Australia
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on cricket.com.au.
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