WA Coach Becky Grundy 'Immensely Proud' Despite WNCL Final Hopes Dashed
Western Australia's coach Becky Grundy expressed immense pride in her team after their valiant effort to secure a spot in the Women's National Cricket League final ended in a heartbreaking 13-run loss to the ACT Meteors. The match, held on March 16, 2026, saw WA's dreams of a top-two finish evaporate despite a strong chase, leaving them in third place for the season.
Agonising Shortfall in Final Push
Entering the final home and away game on an impressive seven-match winning streak, WA needed a comprehensive victory over ACT to leapfrog Queensland into second position. This required not only securing a bonus point but also significantly boosting their net run rate. After bowling out the Meteors for 205, the equation was clear: WA had to chase down the target within 113 deliveries to surpass Queensland's standing.
Maddy Darke, with a brisk 42, and Heather Graham, contributing 25, spearheaded the chase with confidence and efficiency, keeping WA on track for a potential finals berth. However, their departures triggered a dramatic collapse of 4-25, effectively crushing WA's hopes of finishing in the top two. The visitors held firm to clinch the win, ending WA's season on a bittersweet note.
Grundy Praises Team's Resilience and Growth
In the aftermath, Grundy highlighted her team's attacking mindset and unwavering belief during the chase. "As much as we lost and it would've been nice to finish on a win, we gave it a crack," she said. Reflecting on the season's journey, Grundy noted the remarkable turnaround from a 0-4 start to winning seven consecutive games and entering the final match in finals contention. "There's been some vast improvements across the group," she added, emphasizing her pride in the team's post-Christmas fight and determination.
This third-placed finish marks WA's best performance since their title-winning 2019-20 campaign, a significant improvement from last season when they finished at the bottom of the ladder with only three wins. Grundy underscored the importance of the belief and confidence the team has built, stating it will be invaluable for future campaigns.
Building on a Strong Platform for Next Season
Looking ahead, Grundy emphasized the need to harness this momentum and continue evolving. "It's really important that we harness that and take that into next year," she explained. The team plans to conduct thorough reviews and shape their pre-season around making strategic tweaks to build on this foundation. "This is a really cool platform for us to be able to build on going into next season, knowing that the game keeps moving, so we have to keep moving with it," Grundy concluded, expressing optimism for future growth and success in the WNCL.
