The Women's National Cricket League Final Series will be contested by the NSWIS "Blues" and the Queensland Konika "Fire" over the Australia Day long weekend at Bankstown Oval in Sydney.

The three one day matches on the 26th,27th and 28th of January begin at 10am and will be televised live by C7.

Queensland will make their debut appearance in the finals series after a very successful season lead for the first time by Australian wicket keeper Julia Price. Price's form with the bat, compiling 316 runs at an average of 45, has been a major factor in the turn around for last season's fourth placed finish.

Price is excited at the prospect of Queensland winning their first title. "We are thrilled to have made the finals for the first time and will keep in mind the memory of the Queensland Bulls winning their first Sheffield Shield in 1994/95" said Price.

In the other corner the NSWIS "Blues" are chasing their fifth consecutive WNCL title. Since its inception in 1996/97 NSW have dominated and to date are on the only team to have won the WNCL.

Captain of the NSWIS "Blues" Belinda Clark is wary of Queensland after the teams shared the round games one each prior to Christmas. "The Queensland team has played consistently throughout the season and will be difficult to beat this weekend" said Clark.

© 2001 Women's Cricket Australia