Queensland Fire captain Georgia Redmayne has praised the feats of teenage leg-spinner Aya Stafford in the wake of her eye-catching WNCL debut yesterday.
Fire Set For Bounce Back
Stafford's haul of 4-25 and a strong batting effort from Australian opener Georgia Voll wee among the highpoints for the Fire which were otherwise unable to match NSW at Cricket Central yesterday, giving up a bonus point in their six wicket loss to open their WNCL title campaign on a flat note.
The reigning title-holders made a bright enough start, before losing their way in the middle overs to be dismissed for 167 with Voll top-scoring with 83. The next highest score was 21 by stand-in captain Annie O'Neil.
Stafford, on debut for Queensland but a young veteran of 10 T20 Internationals for Japan, enjoyed a dream debut, with the 16-year-old claiming the wickets of Australian stars Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, as well as Emma Manix-Geeves and Erin Burns.
Redmayne, who is hoping to be cleared to return tomorrow to lead the team after missing the opening match with a calf strain, said the debuts of Stafford and pace bowler Catherine White had lifted the team's mood.
"We were having a laugh that she's had an international wicket before she has a domestic wicket, so she's a very exciting prospect."
"We play at the same club (Wests) so I was really pleased for her. And just wish I could have been on there too, to celebrate with her, honestly."
Redmayne said White had demonstrated her potential as well.
"I think she's taken a few of us back in training with her pace. She was clocking almost 120k last week at training, so another really exciting prospect, Hopefully it's the start of bigger and better things. We'd love to get around her and celebrate her first wicket tomorrow, hopefully."
Redmayne said the Fire was aiming to bounce back tomorrow.
"Yesterday was pretty disappointing to go down the way we did. But we know that to take away some points at this stage would be crucial."
Queensland will finalise its squad tomorrow morning before the toss.
The matches will be streamed live on Kayo and cricket.com.au
Women’s National Cricket League
Round One
NSW v Queensland, tomorrow, 9.30am start.
Cricket Central, Sydney
Queensland Fire
8. Georgia Redmayne (c)
18. Annie O’Neil (vc)
22. Lily Bassingthwaighte
7. Lucy Bourke
12. Grace Collins
44. Nicola Hancock
17. Grace Harris
21. Jess Jonassen
6. Aya Stafford
53. Filippa SueSee
13. Georgia Voll
15. Catherine White
58. Lauren Winfield-Hill
(12th player to be named, one to be omitted).