MCG hosts WNCL grand final rematch this week

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that, for the first time, the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) finals series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australian Cricket Board

14-Jan-2003

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced today that, for the first time, the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) finals series will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The three-match limited-overs series between Victoria Spirit and the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Blues begins this Friday (17 January), with the second game also being played at the MCG on Saturday (18 January).

The third game (if needed) is scheduled for Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote on Sunday (19 January).

Belinda Clark's Victoria Spirit won the right to host the finals series after finishing on top of the WNCL ladder with 40 points.

The fixture is a re-match of last season's WNCL final series, which the NSWIS Blues won 2-0. That win gave the NSWIS Blues their sixth consecutive WNCL title.

In the most recent encounters between the two states, the NSWIS Blues recorded a five-wicket victory at Hurstville Oval on 7 December 2002, before Victoria Spirit rebounded with a three-run win at the same ground the next day.

All matches commence at 1000 and entry is free.

The teams for the 2002-03 WNCL finals are:

Victoria Spirit	Player number	NSWIS Blues	Player number
Belinda Clark (captain)	1	Julie Hayes (captain)	1
Cathryn Fitzpatrick (vice-captain)	4	Lisa Keightley (vice-captain)	11
Clea Smith (vice-captain)	17	Sarah Andrews	16
Kelly Applebee	3	Alexandra Blackwell	17
Louise Broadfoot	9	Kate Blackwell	20
Jodie Dean	15	Bronwyn Calver	3
Megan Foster	18	Leonie Coleman	5
Jane Franklin	5	Shannon Cunneen	2
Amelie Hunter	10	Michelle Goszko	6
Melanie Jones	2	Sharon Millanta	14
Brooke McFarlane	12	Leah Poulton	19
Natalie Wood	16	Lisa Sthalekar	7
Shannon Young	13	Emma Twining	13
Ken Davis (coach)		Kerry Marshall (coach)
Pam Allen (team manager)		Justine Russell (team manager)
		Mechelle Hare (assistant coach)

Victoria Spirit's path to the final (won 6, lost 2, bonus points 4, total points 40)

Round 1  v  Western Fury at Abbett Park
23 November  won by 94 runs
24 November  won by eight wickets

Round 2 v NSWIS Blues at Hurstville Oval 7 December lost by five wickets 8 December won by three runs

Round 3 v Southern Scorpions at Punt Road 28 December won by 49 runs 29 December won by 38 runs

Round 4 v Queensland Fire at Geelong 11 January won by eight wickets 12 January won by six wickets

NSWIS Blues' path to the final: (won 6, lost 2, bonus points 0, total points 36)

Round 1  v  Southern Scorpions at Adelaide Oval #2
9 November  won by five wickets
10 November  lost by 10 runs

Round 2 v Victoria Spirit at Hurstville Oval 7 December won by five wickets 8 December lost by three runs

Round 3 v Queensland Fire at Allan Border Field 21 December won by six wickets 22 December won by 21 runs

Round 4 v Western Fury at Sydney University 11 January won by 24 runs 12 January won by three runs