WYNNUM-MANLY has capped its 65th anniversary year with a history-making triumph, claiming the club’s first KFC T20 Max women’s title in a nail-biting finish against Western Suburbs at Allan Border Field.
The Sea Eagles lifted the trophy after a trademark powerhouse display from first-season recruit Laura Harris, whose all-round brilliance proved the difference.
Set 154 for victory, Wynnum looked shaky at 3-46, with semi-final hero Elyse Villani already dismissed.
But Harris quickly turned the tide, following up her tidy return of 2-21 with the ball by blasting 77 from just 31 deliveries.
Her innings included 13 fours and two towering sixes, propelling Wynnum to 4-125 and within sight of the title.
Wests kept the pressure on through a disciplined bowling effort, particularly young quick Filippa SueSee (3-20) and Holly Ferling (1-21), and wickets late in the innings set up a tense finish.
But Eloise Schabe (14 not out) and Clodagh Ryall (6 not out) held their nerve, steering the Sea Eagles home at 7-154 with one ball to spare.
Earlier, Wests all-rounder Lily Bassingthwaighte anchored the Bulldogs’ innings with an unbeaten 56 from 52 deliveries.
Cameos from Ruby Strange (21 off 12), Annie O’Neil (21 off 15) and Ferling (16) kept the scoreboard moving, but Wynnum’s bowlers prevented Wests from breaking free.
Hurricanes all-rounder Hayley Silver-Holmes (2-26), Harris, and Ryall (0-17 from 4) combined with a sharp fielding effort to limit the Bulldogs to 6-153 – a total that ultimately wasn’t quite enough.
For Wynnum-Manly, the victory not only sealed a maiden T20 Max women’s title but also etched a new chapter in club history.
