Grand Final stage set for Women’s Premier Cricket

^{Pictured: Sydney's Kira Churchland and Gordon's Kinjal Kumari with the Ruth Preddey Cup ahead of the Women's First Grade Final this week. Photo by Ian Bird} 

Drummoyne Oval is set to host the McDonald’s Women’s NSW Premier Cricket First Grade Final between Gordon and Sydney this Sunday, March 15.  

The match will begin at 10.00am, with live scores and livestream available here. 

Gordon finished top of the ladder at the end of the regular season, progressing to the grand final after their semi-final clash with Campbelltown Camden was abandoned due to weather. The club will also carry confidence into the contest after recently securing the 2025/26 Women’s Club Championship. 

Much of Gordon’s success this season has been driven by the outstanding form of Olivia Callaghan. The all-rounder sits third on the competition run tally with 330, while also ranking second overall for wickets, making her one of the most dominant players in the competition. 

Captain Kinjal Kumari said the club championship success had helped galvanise the group ahead of the season’s biggest game. 

“It brings a lot of confidence to our group, especially considering how we’ve started the season and how we’ve finished. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but we’ve been through it all together.” 

Kumari also highlighted Callaghan’s value within the side. 

“Even though she’s one of the youngest in our team, she probably has the most experience.  

“Coming up through the NSW Pathways and playing a bunch of Second XI games and First Grade cricket brings us a lot of confidence that she’ll bring those experiences to the final”. 

Another potential boost for Gordon could come through the potential availability of NSW Breaker Elsa Hunter, who is currently in Adelaide with the state squad ahead of next weekend’s WNCL Final. 

The club will be chasing its first Women’s First Grade title since the 2016/17 season, something Kumari said would be a significant milestone for the group. 

“When I first started, we hadn’t had the best of showings and were finishing near the bottom of the table. With the experience that we have now, we’ve gradually built up our strengths. We had this five-year plan - building team culture, then building our skills and putting it all together. Hopefully we can pull it off.” 

Sydney, meanwhile, enter the final after finishing fourth on the ladder before defeating Parramatta in the semi-final to secure their place in the decider. 

The Tigers will also enjoy the benefit of home ground familiarity at Drummoyne Oval, something captain Kira Churchland believes could prove valuable. 

“I think it’s always an advantage when you get to play at your home ground – you understand the conditions a lot better.” 

Sydney’s season has been headlined by the form of Eva Ragg, who leads the competition’s run-scoring charts with 428 runs.  

“Eva’s been huge for us this year,” Churchland said.  

“First year as captain as well, she’s led from the front and really helped us get behind her captaincy.  

“I think the team takes a lot of confidence from her leadership, and that’s definitely helped us get to the final.” 

Sydney also bring valuable big-match experience into the contest, having last lifted the Ruth Preddey Cup in 2023/24. 

“Being in previous finals definitely gives the girls a bit of confidence,” Churchland said. 

 “Most of the team we’ll have on Sunday have played in one, two, three finals so it’ll definitely help.” 

The two sides have already produced one thriller this season, with Sydney claiming a dramatic one-wicket win in round three, setting the stage for what promises to be a tightly contested decider. 

The previews for each lower grade grand final can be found below. 

Second Grade 
Who: Parramatta v Sydney 
Where: Merrylands Oval 
When: Sunday, March 15 from 10.00am 

Parramatta

• Finished third on the ladder with a 12-4 record. A win over Bankstown secured their position in Sunday’s final. 

• Parramatta boast the top three run-scorers in the competition with Kelsey Miller (503 at 33.53), Janiya Shah (419 at 38.09) and Sarah Bawcombe (372 at 31). 

• Their last second grade title came about in 2021/22. 

Sydney

• Qualified fourth for the finals. Defeated ladder leaders Gordon by eight wickets to advance to the decider.  

• Daisy Webster has been the best with the bat for Sydney this season, notching up 326 runs at an average of 40.75 to sit fifth in the competition. Annelisa Collins has 16 wickets this season, at an average of 7.81. 

• The Tigers eyeing their first Women’s Second Grade premiership since 2022/23. 

Parramatta and Sydney have met twice this season with Parramatta recording a 12-run win in round two, before Sydney turned the tables with a five-wicket win in round 13. 

Third Grade 
Who: Manly Warringah v Sydney  
Where: Balgowlah Oval 
When: Saturday, March 14 from 12.30pm 

Manly Warringah 

• Second on the ladder at the end of the regular season. Recorded a 16-run win over UTS North Sydney to reach Saturday’s final. 

• Sienna James has been best with the bat for Manly this season, notching up 260 runs. 

• With 18 wickets (8.56 average) Holly Searles leads the side in dismissals, sitting fourth overall in the competition. 

• Manly are looking for their second Women’s Third Grade premiership, having first won the title in 2023/24. 

Sydney 

• Qualified for finals in fourth position. Overcame St George-Sutherland to advance to the grand final.  

• Kaisha Kapadia (1), Deepti Bhanushali (2) and Tanisha Narayan (5) all feature in the competitions top five wicket takers this season with 25, 20 and 17 wickets respectively. 

• Kylie Hocknell sits atop of the competition's run tally, notching up 538 runs at an average of 48.91. Kapadia in second with 330. 

• A win on Saturday would see Sydney win their first Women’s Third Grade title. 

The sides have met on two occasions this season. Sydney recorded a 6-wicket win in round seven and a 10-run win in round 14. 

Brewer Shield 
Who: Penrith v Blacktown 
Where: Howell Oval 
When: Sunday, March 15 from 10.00am 

Penrith

• Finished second on the competition ladder. Defeated Manly Warringah by 24 runs (DLS) to go through to the final.  

• Aleena Syed leads the runs department for the side, with 404 to sit fifth overall.  

• Penrith on the hunt for their first Brewer Shield since 2011/12. 

Blacktown

• With a 10-5 record, Blacktown were placed fourth at the end of the regular season. They secured their spot in the grand final after a 73-run win over St George-Sutherland in the elimination finals and downing Minor Premiers, Greater Hunter Coast, by two wickets in the semi final.  

• Trisha Yadav sits in 6th overall in the competition's tally of runs with 402. 

• Gayathri Naik is the competition’s third highest wicket-taker, boasting 26 wickets at an average of 10.15.  

• Blacktown are chasing their first Brewer Shield title  
   

The two sides went head-to-head in round 6, with Blacktown walking away with a 10-wicket win.