Cricket

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll emerged as the hero in a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers at the MCG, propelling her team back to the summit of the WBBL standings.Despite dropping five catches, Thunder's bowlers managed to restrict Scorchers to 170 for 5, with Beth Mooney leading the charge with a blistering 97 from 64 deliveries. However, Voll stole the show with an unbeaten 97 from 56 balls, guiding Thunder to victory with just one over remaining.Voll's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 13 fours and a six. It surpassed her previous best of 92 against Adelaide Strikers earlier this month. The 21-year-old attributed her success to taking inspiration from Hobart Hurricanes opener Lizelle Lee's recent record-breaking performances."I watched Lizelle Lee bat the other day and noticed that I've been trying to go a little bit hard too early," Voll said. "I sort of just took my time a little bit more and took the strike off Atha [Chamari Athapaththu] at the start there as well. It was just sort of lucky to come off."Voll's 64-run partnership with Heather Knight proved crucial for Thunder. Knight's dismissal by Amy Edgar gave Scorchers hope, but Voll remained unyielding, finding support from Anika Learoyd to guide her team home.Mooney's innings was equally impressive, despite the dropped catches. She was put down three times before reaching 20 and again after scoring a half-century. Sophie Devine also contributed with 44 runs, but her dismissal by Taneale Peschel and Mooney's lbw dismissal to Shabnim Ismail in the final over proved costly for Scorchers.Peschel finished with figures of 3-28, while Ismail claimed 1-32.

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll has etched her name in the record books with a scintillating 92-run knock, leading her team to a resounding 64-run victory over Adelaide Strikers. The triumph marks Thunder's biggest win in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and their second victory in three matches this season.Voll, who joined Thunder from Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal, seized the opportunity to open the batting and unleashed a barrage of boundaries. Her innings, which included three sixes and 12 fours, propelled Thunder to their highest total of 212 for 5.The 21-year-old shared a 54-run opening stand with Chamari Athapaththu before combining with Phoebe Litchfield for a 96-run partnership off just 52 balls. Litchfield also contributed a valuable 49, showcasing her creative strokeplay with scoops and reverse sweeps.In reply, Adelaide Strikers struggled to keep pace with Thunder's onslaught. Only Katie Mack's 51 provided some resistance, as Shabnim Ismail and Sam Bates wreaked havoc with the ball. Ismail claimed 3 for 18, while Bates returned career-best figures of 4 for 21, dismantling the Strikers' middle and lower order.The result leaves Adelaide with a 1-2 record in the shortened 19-game season, while Thunder have emerged as early contenders with two wins from three matches. Voll's performance has been a revelation, showcasing her potential as a top-order batter and providing a glimpse of what Thunder can achieve this season.

Sydney Thunder has made a significant acquisition ahead of WBBL10 by signing all-rounder Georgia Voll from Brisbane Heat on a three-year contract. Voll, 20, is widely regarded as one of Australia's most promising batting talents and has also made an impact with her offspin bowling.Despite a challenging WBBL season with the bat, Voll showcased her batting prowess later in the season with a double century in the red-ball 'Green and Gold' game and two WNCL hundreds for Queensland. Her all-around abilities attracted interest from multiple WBBL clubs, but Voll was swayed by conversations with Thunder coach Lisa Keightley."I never expected to play for a New South Wales team, but after talking to Lisa and the guys down there, I'm super excited for the opportunity," Voll said. "Lisa was clear on the role she wants me to play, and that got me over the line."Sydney Thunder general manager Trent Copeland praised Voll's talent and potential. "Georgia has shown since the day she arrived on the scene that she is a special talent with both bat and ball," Copeland said. "She is a future Australian star, and this is a huge signing for the club."Voll's departure from Heat marks a period of significant change for the team, which has also lost Amelia Kerr to Sydney Sixers and coach Ashley Noffke. However, Heat has signed South Africa all-rounder Nadine de Klerk and still boasts a formidable top order led by Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne, Laura Harris, and Charli Knott.

In a thrilling red-ball encounter in Adelaide, CA Green and CA Gold played out a captivating draw, with the bowlers taking center stage on the final day.After CA Green declared their first innings at 355 for 3, thanks to a magnificent double century from Georgia Voll, CA Gold responded with a formidable 350 for 4 declared. Emma de Broughe and Nicole Faltum both notched up centuries for Gold.In the second innings, CA Green posted 259, with Alana King and Heather Graham combining to take seven wickets and put their side in a strong position. King's 4-52 and Graham's 3-38 proved crucial in restricting Gold's chase.However, de Broughe's unbeaten 86* kept Gold in the hunt, as they reached 173 for 7 at the close of play. The match ended in a draw, with CA Green unable to force a victory despite their impressive bowling performance.Voll's double century was a testament to her exceptional batting skills, while de Broughe's consistent performances throughout the match highlighted her status as one of Australia's most promising young players.The match provided valuable red-ball experience for both teams, as they prepare for the upcoming domestic season. The bowlers' ability to make an impact on the final day demonstrated the importance of all-round skills in the longer format of the game.