In a rain-soaked showdown at Phillip Oval in Canberra on February 22, 2026, South Australia’s leg-spin maestro Amanda-Jade Wellington etched her name into Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) immortality, claiming her 167th wicket to eclipse former Australian all-rounder and skipper Lisa Sthalekar’s long-standing mark of 166.
The 28-year-old all-rounder, representing South Australia against Australia Capital Territory Meteors (ACT) Meteors, snared the scalp of Georgia Elwiss with match figures of 10-0-37-1 before rain forced a no-result, but the milestone moment had already thundered through cricket history. Amanda-Jade Wellington’s journey to the top began precariously; she became the youngest player, male or female, to represent South Australia in a senior match at just 15.
Now, with 167 WNCL wickets, she sits alone atop the all-time list, ahead of teammates and rivals like skipper Jemma Barsby (160 wickets), Jess Jonassen (158), and Molly Strano (150). This season, she’s South Australia’s leading wicket-taker and ranks fourth overall with 16 scalps from nine innings at an average of 23.62 and an economy of 4.50, including a five-wicket haul that underscores her enduring threat.
Her dominance isn’t new; Wellington topped the WNCL wickets charts in 2014-15 with 12 victims and obliterated the record books in 2024-25 by claiming 29. Under Barsby’s leadership, South Australia holds fourth on the points table with 23 points from nine games, five wins, three losses, and this latest washout just adds to the story of their fiercely competitive campaign this season, denting their hopes of a spot in the final.
What sets Wellington apart is her evolution from teenage prodigy to polished all-rounder, blending wrist-spin wizardry with lower-order firepower. Surpassing Sthalekar, a WNCL pioneer and World Cup winner, isn’t just statistical; it’s a nod to the depth now defining women’s domestic cricket. As South Australia chases glory, Amanda-Jade Wellington’s landmark fuels the fire.
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