The ACT Meteors fairytale Twenty20 season was brought to a crushing end as the Queensland Fire soared to a seven-wicket victory in Friday’s final at the WACA Ground.
Chasing 108 for victory, the Fire cruised to 3-108 with 35 balls to spare.
In-form Queensland opener Delissa Kimmince was the hero, cracking an unbeaten 78 off 52 balls to rescue her team after they had slumped to 2-27 in the fifth over.
Kimmince thrashed 14 boundaries in her quick-fire knock, with the 24-year-old making it four half-centuries from her past five innings.
The Meteors only scraped into the playoffs with a 5-7 win-loss record, but pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s short history when they knocked off the NSW Breakers in the semi-final.
The Breakers entered that match on a 25-match unbeaten streak, but were sent packing by a Meteors outfit boasting a host of NSW rejects.
However, their dream run couldn’t continue against a Fire outfit desperate to win their maiden T20 title.
The Meteors never got going in their innings, with stand-in captain Kris Britt (33) the only player on her team to pass 20 as they struggled to 7-107 from their 20 overs.
Fire speedster Holly Ferling (2-13 off four overs) starred with the ball, with Jemma Barsby (1-13 off four) also slowing down Canberra’s run rate.
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. It’s a bit surreal. I don’t even remember my innings,” Kimmince said.
“Throughout this year the one thing I haven’t done is been able to bat out the whole innings. So to do that today on the WACA in a grand final is unbelievable.
“To be player of the match in our first ever title for Queensland, and having played finals a few times but falling short – what a dream come true.”
Meteors captain Kris Britt was proud of her team despite the loss.
“It was fantastic given where we’ve come from,” Britt said.
“This is the first step for us. We’ve proved a lot of people wrong.”