The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a celebrated cricket venue, recently showcased an exceptional performance from Georgia Voll of Sydney Thunder. In an exhilarating match against Perth Scorchers, Voll’s stunning unbeaten 97 off 56 balls led her team to a convincing seven-wicket victory in the 27th game of the current Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season 10.
Voll’s innings, which included 13 fours and one six, outshone Beth Mooney’s equally impressive 97 for the Scorchers earlier in the match. This victory not only avenged Thunder’s earlier 74-run defeat by the Scorchers but also elevated them to the top of the WBBL standings, two points ahead of their nearest rivals.
This outstanding performance marked a personal best for the 21-year-old, surpassing her earlier score of 92 against Adelaide Strikers this season. It also placed her in the WBBL record books as the second-highest scorer among uncapped players, just trailing Georgia Redmayne’s 98 in WBBL|08.
Chasing a target of 174, Voll’s composed innings made what could have been a challenging pursuit seem routine, as she expertly guided the Thunder across the finish line with an over to spare.
However, the path to this remarkable achievement was not without its challenges. Thunder’s preparations faced disruption due to a delayed flight and heavy traffic in Melbourne, causing the team to arrive 90 minutes late for their only MCG training session. Nevertheless, Voll took full advantage of the limited time.
“I think I stole the net for about 45 minutes to an hour. We only had that amount of time (to train), so I actually stayed in that whole time. I just thought I needed a bit of a longer hit, with travelling and back-to-back games and just topping up all the time,” Voll shared.
Her dedicated approach translated into a focused and commanding performance under the lights at the iconic MCG.
Voll’s move from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder prior to the 2024 season has yielded significant rewards. Previously batting as low as number nine for the Heat, she had few opportunities to showcase her batting talent, accumulating just 903 runs at an average of 20.06 over 58 matches.
Since joining the Thunder, she has thrived as an opener, scoring 259 runs in just seven games at an impressive average of 43.16. Voll attributes her success to the clarity of her role and the mentorship of seasoned teammates like Heather Knight.
“Coming down to the Thunder, the opportunity was pretty clear to open the batting, and I jumped at that,” Voll explained. “(Knight’s) such a world-class player … to be able to play with her and be out in the middle for long periods of time with her has helped my game.”
Following this pivotal victory, Sydney Thunder not only ascended to the top of the table but also bolstered their prospects for a finals appearance. Their next challenge will be the much-anticipated Sydney Smash against the Sixers, a matchup that could further cement their standing.
“It was a big game for us, if we dropped another one, it would put a bit of pressure on leading into the back end, the last couple of games,” Voll stated.
As Voll continues to excel, her performance at the MCG serves as a remarkable testament to her diligence and ability to adapt. With the finals within reach, the Thunder have compelling reasons to believe they can leverage this momentum into a championship run.
Image Source: Georgia Voll @ Instagram
