Reigning Zoë Goss medalists Maddy Darke and Amy Edgar played crucial roles in steering Australia A to victory in the recent four-day match against India A at Allan Border Field.
WA Stars Help Australia A to Four-day Win
After the first three days saw the momentum shift between the sides, the final day promised to be an enthralling one.
Set 281 for victory, Darke was instrumental in Australia A’s run chase, compiling a critical 68 off 116 balls.
Darke joined opener Rachel Trenaman at the fall of the first wicket in the run chase, with Australia A still needing a tricky 164 runs for victory.
Trenaman departed shortly after and left Darke and Anika Learoyd to combine for a match-winning 136 run third wicket partnership.
In a positive sign for WA and Perth Scorchers, Darke looks to have picked up where she left off last season.
The 24-year-old compiled 543 runs from 12 innings in the 2024-25 WNCL campaign, the highest ever by a WA batter in the competition.
She also scored a brilliant century for Australia A against India A in a four-day match on the Gold Coast last year.
While Darke was a standout with the bat, Edgar’s role with the ball in the second innings was also vital.
With Australia A holding a narrow six run lead going into the second innings, India A looked to be well on their way to setting the hosts a big run chase at 1-78.
Edgar then stepped up to remove Dhara Gujjar and Shafali Verma in quick succession to keep her side in the game.
The 27-year-old then claimed three more wickets in the space of 13 overs late in the innings, including Ragvhi Bist for 86 and Captain Radha Yadav for 10 to end with figures of 5-57.
Edgar’s four-day heroics followed a string of economical performances in the white ball component of the tour.
Her five wickets in the three T20 games had her as Australia A’s leading wicket taker while conceding a miserly 6.53 runs per over.
Edgar also took 2-55 off her 10 overs in her lone 50 over outing.