Impressive 18-year-old strike bowler, Holly Ferling hopes to make National women’s cricket history tomorrow when her Konica Minolta Queensland Fire team take on the ACT Meteors in the Twenty/20 final at the WACA in Perth.
Neither side has ever won silverware in the women’s cricket competition, with the Fire having previously contested two losing finals in the WNCL 50-over format.
But on the back of its eight-wicket domination of Victoria on Tuesday, where Ferling turned in impressive figures of 1/14 from her four overs, the teenage quick admits the time is right for the Fire to claim the crown as Australian Twenty/20 champions.“We were the underdogs against Victoria and as a proud Queenslander that’s exactly the situation which brings out the best in all our players,” confirmed Ferling.
“Twenty/20 is such an intense format but if our bowlers are consistently hitting the spot and we hussle in the field it gives our batters the chance to swing the bat.
“Everyone has worked particularly hard over the last five weeks to give us a good shot at winning this competition, so it’d be great to secure another slice of cricketing history for Queensland.”
The only injury cloud within the Fire ranks is fast bowler Courtney Hill who collected the valuable wicket of Meg Lanning in the semi-final: a player rated as the number 1 batter in international women’s cricket.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle for Queensland will be denting the confidence of the ACT side after it claimed the highly prized scalp of NSW when advancing to the decider.
“It sets up a situation where both finalists are searching for their first taste of championship success so the final is shaping as a real thriller in Perth,” added Ferling.
“We’ve had the wood on ACT in T20 cricket having converted wins in both our matches this year but it all goes on the line in the final.
“It’s exciting to be a part of finals cricket and the WACA is an especially good wicket for the bowlers so I’ll be pumped for a big one!”
Ferling’s chances of retaining a spot in Australia’s Twenty/20 team to contest the World Cup in Bangladesh later this year will be enhanced with another stong performance in front of selectors during tomorrow’s final. The Southern Stars national team has drawn New Zealand in their opening World Cup fixture on 24 March.
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John Kaarsberg john@boomsports.com.au Mob: 0411 511 029
