The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of cricket’s most iconic venues, witnessed a standout performance from Sydney Thunder’s Georgia Voll. In a thrilling encounter against Perth Scorchers, Voll’s unbeaten 97 off 56 balls propelled her side to a seven-wicket victory in the 27th match of the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season 10.
Her knock, featuring 13 boundaries and a six, overshadowed Beth Mooney’s equally brilliant 97 for the Scorchers earlier in the game. The victory not only avenged Thunder’s earlier humiliating 74-run defeat against the Scorchers but also catapulted them to the top of the WBBL table with two points clear of the chasing pack.
Voll’s dazzling knock marked a career-best for the 21-year-old, surpassing the 92 she had scored against Adelaide Strikers earlier this season. It also etched her name in WBBL history books as the second-highest score by an uncapped player, just behind Georgia Redmayne’s 98 in WBBL|08.
Her innings came in response to a target of 174, a daunting chase made to look effortless as Voll expertly guided the Thunder home with one over to spare.
The journey to this memorable moment was anything but smooth. Thunder’s preparations were hampered by a delayed flight and Melbourne traffic, resulting in the team arriving at the MCG 90 minutes late for their only training session. Voll, however, maximized the little time available.
“I think I stole the net for about 45 minutes to an hour. We only had that amount of time (to train), so I actually stayed in that whole time. I just thought I needed a bit of a longer hit, with travelling and back-to-back games and just topping up all the time,” Voll shared.
Her meticulous preparation translated into a composed and dominant performance under the lights of the iconic MCG.
Voll’s decision to switch from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder ahead of the 2024 season has paid dividends. Previously batting as low as no.9 for the Heat, Voll found limited opportunities to showcase her batting prowess, scoring 903 runs at an average of 20.06 across 58 matches.
This season, with the Thunder, she has flourished as an opener, amassing 259 runs in just seven matches at an impressive average of 43.16. Voll credits the clarity of her role and the guidance of experienced teammates like Heather Knight for her transformation.
“Coming down to the Thunder, the opportunity was pretty clear to open the batting, and I jumped at that,” Voll explained. “(Knight’s) such a world-class player … to be able to play with her and be out in the middle for long periods of time with her has helped my game.”
With this crucial victory, Sydney Thunder not only moved to the top of the table but also strengthened their push for a finals berth. Up next is the highly anticipated Sydney Smash against the Sixers, a match that could further solidify their position.
“It was a big game for us, if we dropped another one, it would put a bit of pressure on leading into the back end, the last couple of games,” Voll said.
As Voll continues to shine, her performance at the MCG is a testament to her hard work and adaptability. With the final in sight, the Thunder have every reason to believe they can turn this momentum into a championship-winning run.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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