Queensland Fire v ACT Meteors
WNCL 2022-23
1 October 2022 at Bill Pippen Oval
Conditions were overcast, the forecast was poor, but there was cricket to be played at Bill Pippen Oval. It had been an excellent start to the season for the Queensland Fire; convincing winners in their two matches v NSW and wanting to continue the momentum. On the other hand, the Meteors had been beaten soundly in two matches by Western Australia and were keen to right the ship. Katie Mack won the toss for the Meteors and elected to bowl in the uncertain conditions.
A familiar Queensland name in Holly Ferling led the ACT attack in a fine opening spell of 1/18 from 6 overs; the wicket that of Georgia Voll in the 7th. Carly Leeson was the other wicket-taker before drinks; a catch taken by Katie Mack at short mid-wicket to dismiss Charli Knott. Georgia Redmayne looked in good touch getting to 37 before falling victim to a Chloe Rafferty short ball which she guided to point and the waiting hands of Rebecca Carter. Laura Harris joined Mikayla Hinkley and signalled her intent smacking her first ball behind square for a boundary. Hinkley played out a maiden to Amy Yates, but that was the last one of them for the day as Harris cut loose, thundering to 50 in just 23 balls then smacking 28 from her next 12 before rain stopped play with Queensland on 188 from 32 overs. 53 minutes of play was lost and Harris appeared to be wanting to make up for that lost time when play resumed. The century partnership came up two overs after the resumption from 72 balls; Harris contributing 80 of them. Harris brought up her century - the fastest ever in the WNCL - from 50 balls in 52 exhilarating minutes much to the delight of spectators and team mates. Harris’ innings came to a close after 8 fours and 8 sixes, when Angelina Genford took a superb catch right on the boundary at long on. Skipper, Jess Jonassen joined Hinkley at the crease. The preceding Harris fireworks made the pace that followed seem relatively sedate, but by the time rain stopped play at the end of the 47th, the partnership had reached 51 from 59 balls and Hinkley had brought up a well-deserved 50 from 81 balls. Rain prevented resumption of the innings and play was reduced to 47 overs a side.
The DLS target for the Meteors was an imposing 292, but before play could re-start, the heavens opened up and a further 80 minutes of play was lost. The new target was recalculated at 205 from 27 overs. By the end of the third over, Courtney Sippel and Georgia Prestwidge had removed both openers. A Charli Knott catch gave Grace Parsons a wicket with the 3rd ball of her first over to make it 3/39 and when Matilda Lugg attempted to increase the run rate and ran past one, Georgia Redmayne whipped off the bails for Parsons’ second. It was a Redmayne catch that handed Courtney Sippel her second wicket in the next over; 5/66. Annie Wikman and Olivia Porter added a belligerent 38 from the next five overs before Porter was also stumped by Redmayne off Jonassen. Three balls later, the rain once again halted play for what was the last time; the ACT innings ending 47 runs adrift of the DLS par score.
Another emphatic win for the Queensland Fire.
