Queensland was up against New South Wales in the One Day final of the Under-19 Female National Championship 2025/26.
Queensland lost half their side in the 14th over of the innings after they won the toss and opted to bat first at National Park, Newcastle Sports ground. Samantha Smithers joined Grace Collins at the crease, and the duo stitched a much-needed 30-run partnership for the 6th wicket. Eliza Henry broke the stand as she picked up the wicket of Samantha Smithers (11 off 33 balls) to provide the 6th breakthrough for New South Wales.
Another crucial 33-run stand for the 7th wicket between Astrid Muniandy and Grace Collins took them past the 100-run mark. However, Queensland was eventually bundled out for 148 in the 45th over of the innings. Grace Collins was the lone warrior with the bat for Queensland, registering a gritty half-century, 79 (110 balls).
Defending a below-par total and a revised target of 146, the Queensland bowlers responded with a spirited bowling performance, resulting in a dominant 25-run victory. Mia Croucamp (8-4-6-3) was exceptional with the ball for her side alongside Ayaka Stafford (10-3-28-3) and Catherine White (7.4-1-14-3), breaking the back of the New South Wales batting lineup.
Olivia Callaghan (31 off 81 balls), Lucy Wilson (20 off 45 balls), and Jessica Robertson 13 (28 balls) made a decent contribution with the bat for New South Wales. The comprehensive win ended the long-awaited 5th title for Queensland.
The Tasmanian skipper Mia Barwick was named as the Player of the Tournament for her all-round heroics during the white-ball season. The award is named after former Australian cricketer Betty Wilson. She was felicitated by Kristen Beams, the CA National Development Lead, while presenting the award.
South Australia’s Indira Panelli was the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 355 runs, and the Victorian pacer Ira Aery ended the season as the leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps to her name.
New South Wales:
They topped the overall table by winning the T20 as well as the One Day format games, accumulating 24 points from 6 games in their campaign. They suffered their first defeat of the season in the grand finale.
Victoria:
Victoria finished 2nd with as many points (24 points) from 6 games across One Day and T20 formats in the tournament.
Queensland:
The title winners of the recently concluded edition of the tournament finished 3rd with 16 points from 6 games, which included four victories and a couple of defeats, one each in One Day and T20 format. They defeated Victoria in the semi-final. Queensland also secured the Spirit of Cricket Award of the tournament, capping off a memorable white-ball season.
Victoria Country:
They had three victories and as many defeats in 6 games, accumulating 12 points across both the white-ball formats and finishing 4th on the points table.
Western Australia:
They had a similar campaign as compared to Victoria, as they ended 5th on the points table with 12 points from 6 games, including 3 victories and 3 defeats in their campaign.
Australian Capital Territory:
The ACT side had a disappointing campaign as they finished 6th on the overall points table with just 8 points from 6 games, including a couple of victories and 4 defeats in their campaign this season.
Tasmania:
Tasmania had a similar outing in their campaign as they also managed just a couple of victories from 6 games, accumulating 8 points. As a result, they finished as the 7th-placed side in the competition this year.
New South Wales Country:
The NSW countryside just managed a solitary victory coming in the One Day format. As a result, they managed an 8th-place finish this season.
South Australia:
They had the worst and a forgettable outing in this year’s Under-19 Championship campaign as they were the only side to remain winless in the competition from the 6 games. As a result, they ended the season at the rock bottom of the points table.
Loves all things female cricket