Heavy hitter: Blows soaks up WNCL experience

FORMER Workers Gol Gol cricketer Makinley Blows is preparing for the second half of the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) season with Victoria, starting tomorrow against top side Western Australia at home.

The 22-year-old all-rounder is coming off a Women’s Premier Firsts Twenty20 title with Essendon-Maribyrnong Park over the WNCL Christmas break and is keen for the challenge against the West Australians.

“We’ve got a number of our Australian players back so we are going in pretty strong ourselves, it should be a good contest,” Blows said.

“Having Meg (Lanning) as captain, she’s one of the best players in the world, and to have those conversations with her on and off the field has helped me develop as a player.

“And adding Elyse Perry into the squad, too, has been exciting – she’s another world class player … (and) she’s willing to talk cricket every second of the day.

“There’s six games of WNCL left so I want to take any opportunity I get in those six games, make as many runs or play a role with the ball when I can and do what I can for the side and, hopefully, get into an WNCL final as the big goal.”

Blows had the form before Christmas, making her first senior century for her state in September with 105 against New South Wales in Adelaide.

“Everyone has a dream of making 100 for their state so it was a dream come true, and to get the win against NSW was big for us as a state – we hadn’t beaten them for a number of years so it was good to get one over them,” she said.

But despite her good form Blows missed out on a Women’s Big Bash League start with the Melbourne Stars this season.
Regardless of that, she said she was still grateful for being part of that system.

“It was disappointing but we had a strong side and I went into the season injured and it was too hard to crack back into the side – the girls were doing well and made the semi,” Blows said.
“The team success was there.

“From a personal perspective I’d have loved to have played but I learnt from that experience and will be better off in the future.”