FORMER CYMS all-rounder Kira Churchland faces the biggest challenge of her short cricketing career today when her ACT Meteors take on the New South Wales Lend Lease Breakers in the Women’s National Cricket League Twenty20 semi-final, at Blacktown.
2013-14 is the first season the WT20 champions will be decided by a finals series. In previous years the victor was the first past the post.
However, the Meteors will make their first semi-final appearance today, in any form of cricket, against a Breakers side accustomed to winning.
NSW is the defending T20 champions and has won the Ruth Preddey Cup (WNCL 50 over competition) 12 times, out of 14 seasons. 
NSW welcome back Australian stars Alex Blackwell, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Erin Osbourne for the clash, and boast three other players with international experience.
Incredibly, Churchland said the Meteors won’t be daunted by the phenomenal Breakers team.
“It’s Twenty20,” she said.
“Anything can happen and a lot of us have played with or against all these girls before, I certainly have. It does make it a bit more daunting having all of them in the one side, but we just have to go out and give it a real crack.”
The Meteors welcome back Southern Stars quick Rene Farrell, who starred against England in the recent Ashes series, and Churchland said her inclusion will give the team a needed boost.
“It’s huge to have her back,” she said.
“She makes a massive difference in our bowling attack.”
The Meteors have a less than impressive record against the Breakers, having won just one game from eight encounters in the past, including two losses this season, by 12 runs and six wickets.
Churchland said her team has the potential to end the hoodoo.
“We have a great team, and we know what we need to do,” she said.
“We need to limit their batters, and try to get as many early wickets as possible. Runs on the board will be important, but if we chase we’ll need to be confident and throw caution to the wind a bit.
“Personally I just need to throw myself around in the field and back our bowlers up. If I get a chance with the ball, I’ll take it, and I might be getting moved up the batting order a bit. If that happens I’ll back myself and try to put pressure on their bowlers and fielders.
“It’ll be a tough game.”