Winning Wests Claim KFC T20 Max

For the second consecutive women’s KFC T20 Max Final, Wynnum-Manly and Western Suburbs fought for the most coveted trophy in Queensland Premier Cricket on Sunday. 

Wests’ proven stars took charge of the big moments, with state stalwarts Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne, Katie Mack and Sarah Coyte having a significant say in the final result. Even more impressive were their bevy of young stars, lead by Lilly Bassingthwaighte and Ayaka Stafford.

Wynnum-Manly, chasing back-to-back titles, won the toss and decided to bat first as all eyes fell on a potential premiership-defining battle between the Harris sisters.

There was a sense that Sea Eagles opener Laura Harris could tear the game apart in the powerplay, especially if she could take down her younger sister Grace Harris’ tweakers. A healthy crowd at Allan Border Field did not wait long; West’s skipper Georgia Redmayne added to the theatre by throwing the ball to Grace for the second over. 

Grace began her 5-step approach, Laura shuffled to off-stump, the ball pitched around middle and was promptly whipped in trademark “Larris” fashion. The shot was destined for the rope until Annie O’Neill flung herself to the left and held on with two hands, remarkably ending the big-hitter’s stay at the hands of her sister. It was an enormous breakthrough that set the tone for events to come.

Redmayne was deft with her bowling changes, introducing 16-year old leg-spinner Ayaka Stafford in the powerplay. Not only was Stafford courageous in varying her pace, the young leggie continued to toss it up with just two fielders on the fence.

Sea Eagles number three Grace Collins, one of the stand-out performers in this year's competition, made the mistake of playing back to Stafford, eventually slicing a slower one to backward point. It was a clever piece of spinmanship, dragging Collins wider and wider before holding the wicket-ball back a split second. 

Adelaide Strikers batter and former Queenslander Ellie Johnston joined opener Mikayla Wrigley at the crease with Wynnum-Manly in early strife at 2-17.

The situation did not deter Johnston who displayed her usual aggression with some lusty blows down the ground. The South Australian import clubbed 38 (22) but Wests kept on pressing, removing Wrigley (18 off 23) before the halfway point.

Rising Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat prospect Lilly Bassingthwaighte opened the floodgates with a lovely bit of deception, beating Johnston with a terrific slower ball. She then castled the experienced Zoe Cooke in the first over of the power surge, while WBBL veteran Sarah Coyte chimed in with three tail-end wickets including a priceless maiden in the surge.

A highlight of the day was Redmayne’s lightning fast stumping down the legside to dismiss Clodagh Ryall off Coyte. 

Wynnum were bundled out on the last ball for 106, well below par as their last seven batters failed to reach double figures.

Bassingthwaighte finished with 2-21 and 3 catches, while Harris (3-18 from 4), Coyte (3-15 from 4) and Stafford (1-23 from 3) did further damage to bookend the innings. Rookie-contracted Fire pace bowler Fililipa SueSee (1-11) and Ruby Strange (0-15) provided support from both ends.

Wests’ pursuit began in a peculiar way when Georgia Redmayne fell in the 2nd over. The QLD Fire veteran rocked back to pull Tara Staines, only to see the ball ricochet off her thigh pad, through her legs and onto off-stump. It was the only glimmer of hope for Wynnum all innings.

Grace Harris’s 24 (17) kept the momentum in West’s favour, but Katie Mack’s busy 43* (29) ensured the win was a mere formality. Annie O’Neill (31*) hit five boundaries in a row to crown West’s champions by 8 wickets, with 8.1 overs remaining.

The Final followed a bumper crowd at the annual Brisbane Heat Fan Day earlier in the day, with lots of boys and girls enjoying activities and then the chance to watch some of their favourite players in action.

Wynnum-Manly earned their second Finals appearances in as many seasons with a commanding win over Valley on Friday night. Johnston hammered an outstanding 65 from 36 balls while Laura Harris clubbed 23 from 9 at a strikerate of 255 to get the Sea Eagles innings off to a flayer.

After posting a commanding 5-201, Wynnum-Manly's attack then held firm to restrict Valley to  9-72, with Hobart Hurricanes quick Hayley Silver-Holmes (3-4) and ACT quick Amy Hunter (2-4) leading the charge.

Wests clinched their berth in the decider with a solid win over Sandgat-Redcliffe in the other semi-final.

O'Neil, whose efforts last season earned her a Brisbane Heat contract and subsequent Queensland Fire selection, was superb as she crashed 57 from 39 balls to lift the Bulldogs to 8-151 despite a fine showing from Nic Hancock who snapped up 3-15 from her four overs in a disciplined display. The Gators were held to 9-94 in reply, with Strange (2-15) and Harris (2-19) doing the damage.