The ACT Meteors are hopeful wicketkeeper Matilda Lugg will recover from a broken finger in time for the back end of the season after a training injury late last week forced her out of Saturday's season-opening win.
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Lugg was sporting a hefty sling at Phillip Oval on Saturday as she cheered on her teammates to a five-wicket win over the Queensland Fire.
She is facing a minimum of four weeks on the sideline which will rule her out of at least the next four matches.
Vice-captain Erica Kershaw kept in Lugg's absence, while coach Jono Dean blooded three debutants in the brilliant win over Queensland.
Speed demon Chloe Rafferty opened the bowling, Rebecca Carter scored 17 opening the batting while Olivia Porter bowled two overs at the Fire.
"All the debutants contributed," Dean said.
"Raff [Rafferty] opened the bowling and bowled fast, and weathered a good storm bowling to Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll who had a really good WBBL.
"Ports [Porter] came on and bowled through the middle and back end and we were really clear about her role. And then Carts [Carter] coming out and opening the batting in her first WNCL game.
"They're really special moments and I'm so pleased for them. All three of them will be better for the run.
"We'll go back and see what we did really well and see what we can do better and look at Tasmania and put another performance on the board."
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The Meteors host Tasmania on Wednesday at Phillip Oval before playing South Australia at the same venue four days later.
Saturday's season opener was a watershed moment for the competition which had been delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had originally been slated to begin in September.
"We've played and trained for such a long time, this is our first match together as a squad this whole preseason because we've had stuff lined up and things have changed and we've had to adapt and pivot," Dean said.
"For them to go there in their first match as a squad this year and play like they did - it was awesome, I was so pleased."
WNCL
Round two: Wednesday - Tasmanian Tigers v ACT Meteors at Phillip Oval, 10am.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
