NSW Women vs Queensland Fire Women Prediction, 4th Match WNCL 2026-27: Preview, Playing XI, Dream11
NSW Women vs Queensland Fire Women prediction for the opening-round WNCL 2026-27 fixture brings last season’s finalists together again at Cricket Central in Sydney. Queensland Fire enter the new campaign as reigning champions after defeating NSW by seven runs via the DLS method in the 2025-26 final at this same venue.
The match is therefore an immediate rematch between two of the competition’s strongest teams. NSW dominated the 2025-26 regular season, winning 11 of 12 matches and finishing 13 points clear at the top of the table, but Queensland produced the decisive performance in the final to claim the Ruth Preddey Cup.
Both sides have retained substantial experience. NSW still have Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield available for the opening two matches, while Queensland have Grace Harris, Georgia Voll and Lucy Hamilton available at the start of the campaign.
NSW have nevertheless lost several players to Australia A duty, including Katie Mack, Anika Learoyd, Tahlia Wilson and Frankie Nicklin. Queensland also have a settled squad, led by Georgia Redmayne, with Charli Knott, Jess Jonassen, Grace Harris and Sianna Ginger providing substantial all-round depth.
The match should offer a useful early indication of whether NSW can turn their regular-season dominance from last summer into another title challenge, or whether Queensland can immediately show that their championship-winning formula remains effective.
Match Details
| Match | Date | Time | Venue | Tournament/Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Women vs Queensland Fire Women | 1 October 2026 | 5:30 AM IST | Cricket Central, Sydney Olympic Park | WNCL 2026-27 |
NSW Women Last 5 ODI Matches
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Opponent Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 2026 | Queensland Fire | Lost | 212/6 | 332/7 | Lost by 7 runs (DLS) |
| 14 Mar 2026 | South Australia | Won | 190 | 128 | Won by 62 runs |
| 12 Mar 2026 | South Australia | Lost | 259/5 | 260/7 | Lost by 3 wickets |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Tasmania | Won | 246/8 | 209 | Won by 37 runs |
| 21 Feb 2026 | Tasmania | Won | 274 | 230 | Won by 44 runs |
NSW’s last five WNCL matches produced three wins and two defeats. Their final regular-season defeat came against South Australia, but they bounced back with a 62-run win before facing Queensland in the final.
The major issue is that the most recent match between these sides ended in Queensland’s favour. NSW chased 333 in a rain-affected final but finished on 212/6 from 32 overs, seven runs short on the DLS calculation.
Queensland Fire Women Last 5 ODI Matches
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Opponent Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 2026 | NSW Women | Won | 332/7 | 212/6 | Won by 7 runs (DLS) |
| 14 Mar 2026 | Victoria Women | Won | 106/1 | 104 | Won by 9 wickets |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Victoria Women | Won | 288/6 | 238 | Won by 50 runs |
| 3 Feb 2026 | NSW Women | Lost | 224 | 309/7 | Lost by 85 runs |
| 22 Jan 2026 | South Australia | Lost | 194 | 195/9 | Lost by 1 wicket |
Queensland also recorded three wins in their last five matches, but their sequence ended much more strongly. The Fire won their final three matches, including the final against NSW, to enter the new season as defending champions.
Their batting ceiling was evident in the final, when Queensland made 332/7 before restricting NSW to 212/6 from the revised 32-over allocation. They had also scored 288/6 against Victoria earlier in March.
Recent Form Comparison
| Team | Last 5 | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Women | W-L-W-W-L | 3 | 2 |
| Queensland Fire Women | W-W-W-L-L | 3 | 2 |
The win-loss records are identical, but Queensland have the psychological advantage of having won the most recent meeting — and the most important one, the WNCL final.
NSW Women Preview
NSW enter the new campaign with a strong core despite several important players being unavailable because of Australia A commitments. Their 2025-26 regular-season record of 11 wins from 12 matches remains the strongest evidence of their overall consistency.
Batting
The availability of Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner significantly strengthens the NSW batting order. Litchfield provides left-handed attacking strokeplay, Perry brings experience and stability, while Gardner offers power and additional bowling value.
However, NSW will have to replace the production of Katie Mack and Anika Learoyd, who are away with Australia A. Mack was the leading NSW run-scorer in the previous WNCL season with 659 runs, while Learoyd also had a major role in the team’s top order.
Emma Manix-Geeves is an important new addition. The wicketkeeper-batter moved from Tasmania to NSW and gives the Breakers additional batting depth and wicketkeeping cover following Alyssa Healy’s retirement.
Bowling
Lauren Cheatle remains a major new-ball threat. She finished the 2025-26 WNCL season with 29 wickets, the highest tally in the competition, while Maitlan Brown and Sarah Coyte provide experienced support.
Samantha Bates adds left-arm orthodox spin, while Ashleigh Gardner can contribute off-spin depending on the conditions and match-up.
Powerplay
NSW need to compensate for the absence of several regular top-order players by making their early partnerships count. Litchfield and Perry can provide the acceleration, but losing wickets during the field restrictions would expose a less familiar middle-order combination.
Middle Overs
This could be NSW’s strongest phase if Gardner and Perry are able to build partnerships. Their all-round depth allows them to maintain batting resources while still retaining several bowling options.
Death Overs
NSW have enough batting depth to accelerate late, but the bowling side of the equation could be equally important. Cheatle, Brown and the other seam options need to prevent Queensland’s powerful lower middle order from producing another large finish.
What NSW need to do: Build a stable platform through the first 25–30 overs, then use Gardner, Perry and the lower middle order to accelerate without losing too many wickets.
Queensland Fire Women Preview
Queensland enter the season with a settled squad and the confidence of having won last season’s title. Cricket Australia describes the Fire as having considerable depth, variety in their attack and significant batting firepower.
Batting
Georgia Redmayne is the central figure at the top of the Queensland order. She scored 453 runs in the 2025-26 regular season at an average of 50.33 and produced three centuries.
Grace Harris adds explosive power and can change the scoring rate rapidly once set. Georgia Voll and Charli Knott give Queensland further batting depth, while Jess Jonassen remains capable of contributing important lower-order runs.
The Fire’s 332/7 in last season’s final demonstrated their ability to turn a strong platform into a very large total. Redmayne’s ability to anchor the innings allows the more aggressive batters around her to attack.
Bowling
Queensland have a varied attack featuring Jonassen’s left-arm orthodox spin, Knott’s off-spin and seam options led by Sianna Ginger and Nicola Hancock.
Ginger took 20 wickets during the 2025-26 WNCL season and was one of Queensland’s most reliable bowling contributors.
The Fire can therefore attack NSW in different phases rather than relying exclusively on one type of bowler.
Powerplay
Queensland’s priority should be protecting Redmayne while allowing their attacking partners to exploit fielding restrictions. A strong start would put pressure on an NSW bowling unit that is missing some of its regular Australia A representatives.
Middle Overs
Spin is likely to become important. Jonassen and Knott can attack the middle order while maintaining control, particularly if NSW’s replacement batters are forced to accelerate.
Death Overs
Queensland have enough batting depth to target the final 10 overs aggressively. Their challenge will be retaining wickets so that Harris, Knott and the lower order can maximize the final phase.
What Queensland need to do: Get Redmayne established early, use their spin depth through the middle overs and avoid allowing NSW’s experienced all-rounders to control the game.
Team Squad & Team News
NSW Women Squad
Squad: Samantha Bates, Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Ashleigh Gardner, Elsa Hunter, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Katie Mack, Emma Manix-Geeves, Claire Moore, Frankie Nicklin, Ellyse Perry and Tahlia Wilson.
Rookies: Lucy Finn and Tara French.
For the opening round, Tahlia Wilson, Katie Mack, Anika Learoyd and Frankie Nicklin are unavailable because they are with Australia A in India. Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield are expected to be available.
Hannah Darlington is another player to monitor after missing the entire 2025-26 domestic season because of a persistent leg injury.
Queensland Fire Women Squad
Squad: Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Grace Collins, Sianna Ginger, Lilli Hamilton, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Annie O’Neil, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Georgia Voll, Catherine White and Mikayla Wrigley.
Rookies: Aya Kato-Stafford and Filippa SueSee.
Grace Harris, Georgia Voll and Lucy Hamilton are available for the opening two matches. Their availability later in the season is less certain because of Australia’s international schedule.
Probable Playing XI
| NSW Women Probable XI | Queensland Fire Women Probable XI |
|---|---|
| Emma Manix-Geeves (wk) | Georgia Redmayne (c/wk) |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Grace Harris |
| Ellyse Perry | Georgia Voll |
| Ashleigh Gardner | Charli Knott |
| Erin Burns | Jess Jonassen |
| Claire Moore | Sianna Ginger |
| Maitlan Brown | Lucy Bourke |
| Caoimhe Bray | Annie O’Neil |
| Sarah Coyte | Nicola Hancock |
| Lauren Cheatle (c) | Grace Parsons |
| Samantha Bates | Lucy Hamilton |
Probable XIs are subject to official team announcements and the toss.
NSWW vs QLDW Fantasy / Dream11 Prediction
| Role | Fantasy Picks |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper | Georgia Redmayne, Emma Manix-Geeves |
| Batters | Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll |
| All-rounders | Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Charli Knott, Jess Jonassen |
| Bowlers | Lauren Cheatle, Sianna Ginger, Samantha Bates |
Captain Options
- Ashleigh Gardner — contributes in both departments and can influence the match even if one discipline does not produce a major return.
- Georgia Redmayne — provides top-order batting responsibility and wicketkeeping involvement.
Vice-Captain Options
- Grace Harris — high-impact batting plus off-spin gives her multiple scoring routes.
- Phoebe Litchfield — expected to bat in an important position and can exploit the field restrictions.
Fantasy suggestions are for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed to produce points or returns.
Queensland Women vs NSW Women Head-to-Head
| Statistic | Result |
|---|---|
| Total | 5 |
| NSW Women Wins | 4 |
| Queensland Fire Wins | 1 |
| Ties | 0 |
| No Results | 0 |
Last 5 Head-to-Head WNCL Meetings
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result/Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 2026 | Cricket Central | Queensland Fire | Won by 7 runs (DLS) |
| 3 Feb 2026 | Cricket Central | NSW Women | Won by 85 runs |
| 2 Mar 2025 | WACA Ground | NSW Women | Won by 21 runs |
| 29 Sep 2024 | Cricket Central | NSW Women | Won by 2 wickets |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Cricket Central | NSW Women | Won by 4 wickets |
NSW have won four of the last five WNCL meetings, but Queensland won the latest and most important encounter: the 2025-26 final.
Pitch Report
Cricket Central has generally produced strong batting conditions in recent WNCL cricket. Cricket Australia’s assessment before the 2025-26 final noted several 300-plus scores at the venue and indicated that pace had been slightly more effective than spin during that season.
The surface should provide reasonable pace for strokeplay once batters settle, while the new ball can offer seamers an opportunity to attack the outside edge. The key period is therefore likely to be the first 10 overs, when bowlers can potentially exploit movement before the pitch becomes easier to bat on.
Through the middle overs, spinners such as Samantha Bates, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen and Charli Knott can become more relevant because they can change the pace of the innings rather than relying solely on movement.
There is also enough batting depth on both sides for the final 10 overs to become decisive. A team entering the death phase with seven or eight wickets intact should have the opportunity to push well beyond 250.
The surface does not automatically make chasing easier, so the toss decision should depend on the morning conditions and the amount of assistance available to the new ball.
Weather Report
The Bureau of Meteorology’s current Sydney Olympic Park forecast for Thursday 1 October is sunny, with a minimum temperature of 13°C and maximum of 32°C. The forecast currently indicates no expected rainfall.
| Weather Factor | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 13°C minimum, 32°C maximum |
| Humidity | Not reliably available for the exact match period |
| Rain Chance | 0% in the current BOM forecast |
| Wind | Light initially, increasing during the day |
| Conditions | Sunny |
DLS/Interruption Risk: Low
The current forecast provides little indication of a rain interruption. Cool early-morning conditions could give the seamers some assistance when the match begins, but the temperature is expected to rise substantially during the day.
Dew should not be treated as a major factor for an early-starting match. Weather therefore does not materially alter the prediction at present, although the forecast should be checked again closer to the start.
Broadcast Details
Cricket Australia’s current WNCL schedule lists the fixture for Cricket.com.au and Kayo. Previous WNCL matches at Cricket Central have also been streamed through the Cricket Australia platform and carried by Kayo Sports.
Match start: 5:30 AM IST, 1 October 2026.
NSWW vs QLDW Toss Prediction & Strategy
If NSW Women win the toss
NSW could consider batting first.
The recent Cricket Australia assessment identifies Cricket Central as a high-scoring venue, and NSW’s batting resources are strong enough to build a substantial first-innings total despite the absence of several Australia A players.
A target above 270 would put pressure on Queensland’s chase and allow NSW to use Cheatle, Brown and Bates with a defined target.
If Queensland Fire Women win the toss
Queensland could also prefer to bat first, particularly if the early conditions provide some assistance to seam bowling.
The Fire have enough batting depth to absorb an early wicket and build towards a large total. Their 332/7 in last season’s final demonstrated their ability to make full use of the venue when batting resources remain available deep into the innings.
Toss Prediction
Predicted toss winner: Queensland Fire Women
The predicted decision is bat first, based on the high-scoring nature of Cricket Central and the value of putting scoreboard pressure on an NSW batting unit missing several regular players.
ODI Score Prediction
| Scenario | Projected Score |
|---|---|
| NSW Women batting first | 265–285 |
| Queensland Fire Women batting first | 270–295 |
Winning Chances
| Team | Winning Probability |
|---|---|
| NSW Women | 52% |
| Queensland Fire Women | 48% |
Why the Win Percentage?
| Factor | NSW Women | Queensland Fire Women | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-order batting | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Middle-order batting | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Finishing | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Powerplay batting | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Middle-over batting | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Death batting | Strong | Strong | Even |
| New-ball bowling | Very strong | Strong | NSW |
| Spin bowling | Strong | Very strong | Queensland |
| Death bowling | Strong | Strong | Even |
| All-round depth | Very strong | Very strong | Even |
| Recent form | 3-2 | 3-2 | Even |
| Venue suitability | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Pitch suitability | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Fielding | Strong | Strong | Even |
| Squad availability | Reduced by Australia A absences | Strong | Queensland |
| Head-to-head | 4 wins in last 5 | 1 win in last 5 | NSW |
| Home advantage | Yes | No | NSW |
The first major factor is home advantage combined with NSW’s historical performance at Cricket Central. NSW were unbeaten in their six matches at the ground during the 2025-26 WNCL season.
The second is the availability of Perry, Gardner and Litchfield. Their presence gives NSW an unusually strong combination of established international-quality players and domestic experience.
Queensland’s biggest counterargument is the latest H2H result. They defeated NSW in the 2025-26 final at this exact venue, and their current squad retains much of the core that produced that performance.
Key ODI Player Matchups
| Matchup | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Phoebe Litchfield vs Nicola Hancock | Litchfield’s attacking approach against Queensland’s seam bowling could determine how quickly NSW establish the innings. |
| Ashleigh Gardner vs Jess Jonassen | The battle between two experienced all-rounders could influence the middle overs, particularly if spin becomes important. |
| Georgia Redmayne vs Lauren Cheatle | Redmayne is Queensland’s key top-order anchor, while Cheatle was the leading WNCL wicket-taker last season. An early wicket here would significantly change Queensland’s plans. |
Key Batting & Bowling Targets
Expected Top Batter
Phoebe Litchfield — her availability gives NSW an aggressive left-handed option at the top of the order, particularly valuable with Katie Mack and Anika Learoyd unavailable.
Expected Top Bowler
Lauren Cheatle — she led the entire WNCL with 29 wickets last season and remains NSW’s most proven wicket-taking option with the new ball.
Potential X-Factor
Grace Harris — Queensland’s ability to change the scoring rate quickly makes Harris an important potential match-winner, particularly if the Fire enter the final 15 overs with wickets in hand.
NSWW vs QLDW Match Prediction
NSW Women have the home advantage and a strong recent record at Cricket Central, while the availability of Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield gives the Breakers substantial quality for the opening round.
Queensland Fire, however, are the reigning WNCL champions and won the most recent meeting between these sides at this venue. Their settled squad and strong all-round depth make this a close contest rather than a one-sided prediction.
Prediction: NSW Women to win
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