A CRICKETING talent born in Broken Hill, who grew up at Gol Gol, Makinley Blows was a key component in the Victorian Country women’s team winning the 2025 Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) in the Barossa Valley last week.
The tournament played from Saturday, January 4, to Friday, January 10, culminated in a grand final between Victoria and Queensland Country, in warm conditions at Nuriootpa Oval.
In the decider, Blows top scored with 45 (49 balls, 3 x 4s) and produced an opening stand of 79 with Erica Kershaw, which set up the Victorians’ competitive total of 5-109. They then bowled out Queensland Country for 50, giving them an emphatic 59-run win and a second ACCC crown since the women’s side of this tournament started in 2016.
Despite not making a 50 all tournament, Blows was consistent across the breadth of the event. The tall left-hander finished with 229 runs at a strong average of 25.44
“This was my first year playing for Victorian Country,” Blows said.
“It was a lot of cricket in a short time (the grand final teams played 10 games of cricket in six days).
“I certainly was impressed with the standard of the competition.
“It was awesome to come away with the title win.
“My form was a little up and down, trying to adapt my game to the slower wickets.
“I felt we were in control of the grand final and after six overs being 0/30, I knew we set a platform.
“Once we registered a score over 100, I was confident our bowling attack would get the job done.
“While I didn’t bowl in the final, I contributed in the field with a catch and a cheeky run out.
“Because you live and breathe by each other’s success in this type of tournament, it makes lifting the trophy a special moment in my cricket career.”
Blows is also a capable medium pace bowler, although she only bowled seven overs at the ACCC, taking one wicket.
Her highest score was a classy 48 not out against News South Wales at picturesque Stockwell Oval in the morning game on Thursday, January 9. A third score in the forties, a 43 not out was produced against Queensland Country at Kapunda Oval on the opening afternoon.
As expected she was selected in the ACCC Team of the Championships, collecting a “Baggy Green” for the honour.
Having turned 27 during December, Blows was a former Women’s National Cricket League player and a WBBL cricketer.
She played 27 matches for Victoria in the WNCL with a highest score of 105 against South Australia.
Blows also played for both Melbourne WBBL franchises, the Renegades and the Stars, participating in 29 matches.
In the Victorian Premier League, Blows is playing for Plenty Valley in the one-day cup and Essendon Maribyrnong Park in the two-day competition.
During the course of the tournament, Blows appreciated the support of her family – mum Nel, dad Mark, brother Keegan and his wife Keely, grandma Ivy, nephew Lincoln all coming across to the Barossa to watch her play.
