The Sunshine Coast Tier 1 decider between Yandina and Caboolture is expected to be hotly contested on Sunday.
The minor premiers and reigning champions Pioneers will host the match after an impressive campaign, which included winning seven of nine contested games in the six-team division.
Matches this season are 30 overs per side.
“Yandina is a very consistent team across the board, with their bowling and batting,” Sunshine Coast women’s cricket chairman Melinda Shelley said.
“They haven’t batted first a lot. They’ve been chasing totals and when the chase is on, they’ve pulled through really well.
“They’re a really balanced team.”
The Snakes head into the encounter after winning six of nine contested matches this season, and restricting teams to about 105 runs per game.
“They communicate well and have got some great bowlers who can produce the goods when it’s needed,” Shelley said.
“Both are very strong teams and it’s going to be a very tight final.”
Yandina’s Kerryn Matthews looms as a vital cog for them, with a strike rate of 121 and coming off the back of an unbeaten 50 in their 50-run win over Cooroy-Eumundi.
Her team-mate Lauren Ford can be a thorn in opposition sides, having held her wicket in three of her four games, during her injury-interrupted season.
Caboolture crushed Palmwoods by 62 runs in their semi-final, with Grace Warcon and Jear Cochrane providing plenty of strong bowling.
The competition has expanded in earnest during the past four years.
It started with just five teams but now boasts two tiers with six teams each, representing 11 clubs and playing fortnightly.
This was the first season with two tiers.
Tier 1 was for genuine competition while Tier 2 offered a more social environment and a chance for new players to get involved.
This was the first year that games were 30-over a side, after playing 20-over a side in the past.
“There has been a lot of growth and development for our players.” Shelley said.
“The 30-over format has been welcomed. The women love the extra cricket.”
She said women’s cricket was developing strongly in the region.
“It’s definitely something that’s continuing to grow.”
“It’s growing in juniors and seniors and the (Sunshine Coast) Scorchers have first and second division teams (in state competitions).
“We want a really good pathway for female cricketer on the Coast.”
The Sunshine Coast Women’s Cricket Tier 1 Grand Final between Yandina and Caboolture will be held at Yandina on Sunday from 9.45am.
