Preview: Women's National Cricket League set for a close final

In the opening round of Women’s National Cricket League fixtures, New South Wales Breakers and Queensland played out a dramatic game with Queensland winning by one wicket.



The two teams meet again for the first time since then in the final on Saturday. Both sides have star quality. The second domestic final of the season will see New South Wales and Queensland that will provide the finalists.



The WBBL final was won by Brisbane Heat against Sydney Sixers. The Breakers will be a difficult side to beat in Ellyse Perry’s last game for the Breakers before Perry moves to Melbourne where her husband plays rugby union.



The Breakers dominance in the 50 over form of the game is remarkable with 19 titles out of 22 attempts. When you look at the international stars at their disposable it is little wonder why. With a top three of Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes and Perry and it is possible why that dominance continues. Other than that opening day defeat the only other game they have lost this season was against Western Australia. This was the Breakers didn't have the opening trio available.



Then there are the bowlers that the Breakers have at their disposal. Rene Farrell is their leading wicket-taker this season with 15 wickets at an average of 10.66. They also have bowlers of the quality of Perry, Sarah Aley, Nicola Carey and Maisy Gibson. When put together it is difficult to find many weaknesses in the Breakers side.



That is not to say that Queensland will be phased by their task. The Heat have beaten most of the Breakers side in the finals of the WBBL. While that is a 20 over competition, the Heat developed well-worked plans to combat both the Sixers and the Sydney Thunder.



The majority of that Heat team make up the Queensland squad that will play on Saturday.  Beth Mooney stood up and was counted that day and she will again relish the chance to go head-to-head with her Australian teammates.



Back in September, it was one of the younger players that held their nerve to seen Queensland home against the Breakers - Josie Dooley. Dooley was only 18 back in September when she walked out at number 7 with the score 5 for 12. Along with Sammy-Jo Johnson, the pair added 115 for the seventh wicket. The younger of the two scored an unbeaten 52 as their side won by one wicket.



Kirby Short has some exciting players at her disposal including Grace Harris who has scored this season’s highest score of 162 against South Australia.



Jemma Barsby is a Queensland’s leading wicket-taker so far this season and along with Jess Jonassen, they will be looking to take the big wickets. With Holly Ferling and Delissa Kimmince also among the bowlers, the contest between bat and ball is going to be an interesting one.



The script however, seems to be destined to be one that belongs to Perry. The all-rounder has been in a purple patch of form since returning from the ICC World T20. With the final taking place on her own idea of Paradise - the North Sydney Oval, don’t bet against her continuing to write her own script to sign off her Breakers career with yet another title.