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).

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'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