Queensland in the box seat to claim the second spot in the domestic one-day final with one game left to play
Confident Fire eye place in record books
Georgia Redmayne says Queensland are playing with belief, as they eye a golden opportunity to win their first Women’s National Cricket League title.
The Fire sit second on the table with one game remaining against 20-time champions NSW Breakers at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
A win in that game would see Queensland through to the final at Junction Oval on March 27, where they would play an understrength Victoria team who have lost six international players to Australia’s tour of New Zealand, and Annabel Sutherland to injury.
Queensland have finished runners-up in the WNCL on five occasions, last reaching the final in 2018-19, but have never claimed the Ruth Preddey Cup.
Redmayne, who captained the Fire for the first time on Friday in place of regular skipper Jess Jonassen, said the influence of coach Ashley Noffke on the group across the last two seasons had been instrumental in their success.
"He challenges us and we’re starting to see the results," Redmayne said after Queensland cruised to an eight-wicket win over the Breakers on Friday.
"It forces us to get better and he’s been a great influence.
"We’re playing with a lot of belief and controlling the whole game, attacking the whole game rather than stagnating at periods, and that’s something we’ve been focusing on."
Queensland are without Australia stars Jonassen and Beth Mooney for the backend of the season, but Redmayne said it had been pleasing to see young talent including 17-year-old opener Georgia Voll and 18-year-old Charli Knott – who scored a fifty at No.3 on Friday – step up.
"We’ve got quite a young squad and we’ve given them opportunities throughout the year and it’s really nice to see that pay off," Redmayne said.
"The girls work so hard so to see them step up on the big stage is really pleasing to see.
"It’s nice to see them showing they can perform on the national stage."
Redmayne is enjoying a standout individual campaign with the bat, with her unbeaten 99 on Friday following scores of 121, 35 and 90no in her previous three innings.
The 27-year-old’s 397 runs at 99.25 puts her third on the overall league runs table, behind Elyse Villani (593) and Rachael Haynes (413) and is the most by a player yet to make an international debut.
Friday’s innings was the second time she finished unbeaten in the nineties during a run chase.
"It’s not a bad habit, I’d rather 90 not out than zero," Redmayne laughed.