The race for Ruth: How your team can make the WNCL final

Three teams will battle it out for the right to join Queensland in the Women’s National Cricket League final when the final regular season matches are played on Friday.

The Fire, who currently sit 9.5 points clear on top of the table, have completed their 12 matches and are waiting to find out who they will host the domestic one-day final on March 2.

The competition’s other six teams will be in action on Friday, with South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania still able to qualify in the top two and advance to the decider.

South Australia will play bottom-ranked Western Australia at the WACA Ground while NSW are hosting the sixth-ranked ACT Meteors at Cricket Central.

Tasmania, who have held the Ruth Preddy Cup for the last three seasons, will host Victoria at Bellerive Oval.

1. Queensland (35.5 points) 

Played 12 | Won 8 | Lost 4 | NRR 0.952 | Bonus points: 4 

The equation 

Queensland have completed a strong regular season and with their top-two spot locked in, they now need to sit back and wait to see who they will face in the final. They are now locked into top spot and will host the game after South Australia were unable to secure a bonus point in their win over Western Australia on Wednesday.

2. South Australia (30 points) 

Played 11 | Won 7 | Lost 4 | NRR 0.455 | Bonus points: 2 

Remaining match 

February 21 v Western Australia at WACA Ground, 1pm AEDT

The equation 

South Australia have their fate in their own hands, but it’s only by the slimmest of margins with NSW and Tasmania breathing down their necks. The equation for them is simple: win their final game against WA and claim a bonus point and they are through, while a regular win would likely still be enough given their strong NRR.   

3. New South Wales (29 points) 

Played 11 | Won 7 | Lost 4 | NRR 0.341 | Bonus points: 1 

Remaining match

February 21 v ACT Meteors at Cricket Central, 10am AEDT

The equation 

Remarkably, New South Wales featured in every single WNCL final from when the competition started in 1996-97 through to 2019-20. However they have been a glaring absence from the past four deciders, and with their crop of young talent growing into a another formidable force, even without their Aussie stars, this is their best shot at making the final in several seasons.

They need to beat the Meteors, and hope South Australia drop their final game against Western Australia, to get through. A bonus-point win could see them end up level on points with SA (assuming SA won't also claim a bonus point) but NSW have ground to make up on NRR. 

4. Tasmania (27 points) 

Played 11 | Won 6 | Lost 5 | NRR 0.036 | Bonus points: 3 

Remaining match

February 21 v Victoria at Bellerive Oval, 2pm AEDT

The equation 

Tasmania’s hopes of winning a fourth-straight final are alive, but they will need some other teams to do them a favour. First and foremost, they will need to beat Victoria. Then, they will need both NSW and South Australia to lose their remaining matches.

5. Victoria (25 points) 

Played 11 | Won 6 | Lost 5 | NRR -0.259 | Bonus points: 1 

Remaining match

February 21 v Tasmania at Bellerive Oval, 2pm AEDT

The equation 

Wednesday's one-run, final-ball loss to Tasmania means it is season over for Victoria, who now cannot make the final. Instead, they will be out to scupper Tasmania's hopes of advancing.

6. ACT Meteors (14 points) 

Played 11 | Won 3 | Lost 8 | NRR -0.89 | Bonus points: 2 

Remaining match 

February 21 v NSW at Cricket Central, 10am AEDT

The equation 

The Meteors have enjoyed an improved campaign after winning just one match in 2023-24, and while a spot in the final is out of the question, they will be eager to finish the season on a winning note.

7. Western Australia (9 points) 

Played 11 | Won 2 | Lost 9 | NRR -0.605 | Bonus points: 1 

Remaining match 

February 21 v South Australia at WACA Ground, 1pm AEDT

The equation 

Western Australia unfortunately have gone backwards this season following their top-four finish in 2023-24, and will be desperate to end on a high note when they host South Australia.

WNCL 2024-25 standings