Wilga Hotel win their way through to the NDWCA grand final

Wilga Hotel have set up a highly-anticipated grand final rematch against Narrabri District Women’s Cricket Association’s defending champions Wahgunyah Dreamtime Mirri following a dominant 98-run preliminary final victory at Hogan Oval on Saturday night.

After charging home on a three-game winning streak to finish in second spot on the ladder, Wilga Hotel continued that momentum in the knockout contest against the third-placed GFS Engineering, and it was Kate Rickard, Mereka Gleeson and Bridget Murphy who led them to victory.

Wilga Hotel’s captain Jacki Ward won the toss and elected to bat, but it was not the start they were after as GFS’s Milly Adams took a wicket with the first ball of the contest when she caught the dangerous Kate Johnstone (0), and she then took a catch in the second over as Kristie Toomey dismissed Emily Flood (8) to make the score 2-8.

Rickard then entered the middle to join Wilga opener Gleeson and the duo put on a match-winning 144-run partnership that was not broken until the 19th over when Rickard was bowled by Leilani Smith. She departed for a game-best 79 runs following an innings that included 11 fours and two sixes.

Gleeson finished unbeaten on 48 runs after the final delivery had been bowled, while Alex Jenkins chipped in with an unbeaten nine runs as Wilga Hotel reached 3-166 in 20 overs.

They then got off to a flying start in the second innings as Murphy claimed a wicket in the second over to make the score 1-8. She went on to finish the game with sensational figures of 4-12 from four overs, and teammates Carmel Harvey (2-12 from four overs), Jenkins (2-14 from four overs), and Di Burtenshaw (1-19 from four overs) all took wickets too as Wilga Hotel restricted GFS Engineering to 9-68 in 20 overs.

The Wilga Hotel ladies will now take on minor premiers and defending champions Wahgunyah Dreamtime Mirri in this Saturday’s grand final under lights at Hogan Oval, which will be a rematch of the 2022/23 season decider.