Victoria Women sit in 3rd position on the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2026-27 table with 4 points and a positive net run rate of +0.119 following a tight victory in their first match. South Australia Scorpions are just behind them in 4th place with 0 points and a NRR of -0.119 after dropping a nail-biter that went right down to the wire in their season opener.
Squads:
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
South Australian Scorpions Women’s Cricket Team
Bridget Patterson, Courtney Webb, Ellie Johnston, Emma de Broughe, Hollie Armitage, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Eleanor Larosa, Ella Wilson, Emmerson Filsell, Madeline Penna, Tahlia McGrath, Elizabeth Worthley, Courtney Neale, Darcie Brown, Isabella Malgioglio, Jemma Barsby, Kate Peterson, Maggie Clark, Megan Schutt
Players to watch out:
Annabel Sutherland
Annabel Sutherland put on a complete all-round performance for Victoria Women right out of the gate. With the bat, she struck a dominant 107 off 96 balls featuring 13 boundaries and then backed it up with the ball by picking up 3 wickets for 60 runs in her 10 overs. Her century at a strike rate of 111.45 anchored the innings, solidifying her status as a key match-winner.
Tahlia McGrath
Tahlia McGrath was in phenomenal touch for South Australia Women, leading from the front with a huge score of 154 off 137 balls. Her explosive knock came at a strike rate of 112.40 and was laced with 17 fours and 3 sixes. She wasn’t done there, returning with the ball to chip in with 2 wickets for 55 runs in her full quota of 10 overs.
Rhys McKenna
Rhys McKenna had a busy outing for Victoria Women, contributing with both bat and ball. Coming lower down the order, she scored 22 runs off 37 balls with 4 boundaries to help build the total. She later rolled her arm over for 5 overs, claiming 1 wicket for 38 runs to round out a solid team effort.
Megan Schutt
Veteran pace bowler Megan Schutt provided typical discipline for South Australia Women, completing a tidy 10-over spell. She bagged 2 wickets for 49 runs, including a maiden over, while keeping the scoring rate to 4.90 runs per over. Her ability to control proceedings ensured South Australia kept control during crucial phases.
Pitch:
Junction Oval in St Kilda is renowned as a batter’s paradise. The drop-in pitch is consistently flat and hard, providing even bounce and minimal lateral movement, which allows batters to play on the front foot with complete trust. While spin can occasionally come into play later in multi-day games due to surface wear, the venue generally demands disciplined line-and-length bowling from pacers.
Weather:
Melbourne will experience mostly cloudy conditions with temperatures reaching a maximum of 23°C and dipping to 11°C overnight, along with breezy northerly winds around 17 mph and a low 10% chance of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Indigo Noble, Meg Lanning, Mia Perrin, Olivia Henry, Samara Dulvin, Annabel Sutherland, Bridget Patterson, Courtney Webb, Ellie Johnston, Emma de Broughe, Hollie Armitage
Match Details:
Date – October 1, 2026
Time – 9:00 AM IST
Venue – Junction Oval, Melbourne
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on cricket.com.au.
Loves all things female cricket