Eastern Oval to come alive for Ballarat Festival of Cricket

Australia’s best female cricketers are about to converge on Ballarat for a massive celebration of women’s sport. 

Preparations are in full swing for the Ballarat Festival of Cricket, to be played from Saturday 29 October to Monday 31 October as part of the Weber Women’s Big Bash League|08 (WBBL08). 

The City of Ballarat’s premier cricket ground, Eastern Oval, will come alive for the three-day event, with five teams to feature across four matches in an action-packed weekend. 

Come and experience the festival-like atmosphere of the WBBL, Australia and favourite women and sports league. Music, food trucks, and entertainment collide to make it the best day out in Spring for the entire family! 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the event promised to be a great spectacle that also had positive impacts on the city’s female sporting landscape. 

“The City of Ballarat has formed a strong relationship with the Melbourne Renegades and we love having them in town,” Cr Moloney said. 

“Promoting women’s sport is a priority for the City of Ballarat as part of our focus on implementation of the Active Women and Girls Strategy. 

“The City of Ballarat has invested significantly in the establishment of female friendly sporting facilities across Ballarat. Upgrades to change facilities for football, cricket, netball and soccer have headlined the investment over the past three years. 

“It is events like this that will see women’s sport continue to grow in Ballarat.” 

The weekend will start off bright and early with a 10.15am clash on the Saturday between Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Sixers, before the blockbuster Melbourne derby between the Renegades and the Stars at 2pm. 

Melbourne Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten said the club was thrilled to be returning to Ballarat.  

“It’s been more than 1,000 days since we’ve been able to play a WBBL match in Victoria and it’s great to be able to celebrate our homecoming in Ballarat,” he said. 

“Ballarat is part of our Renegades heartland and we’re thrilled to be back hosting matches here this season. The Ballarat Festival of Cricket is going to be a great event, showcasing some of Australia and the world’s best cricketers at Eastern Oval across an action-packed weekend.” 

Tickets for the matches are available for purchase on the Cricket Australia website. 

BALLARAT WBBL FESTIVAL OF CRICKET FIXTURES 

Saturday, October 29 

Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers, Eastern Oval, 10.15am 

Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars, Eastern Oval, 2pm 

Sunday, October 30 

Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers, Eastern Oval, 3pm 

Monday, October 31 

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, Eastern Oval, 3pm 

*Photo: supplied, Melbourne Renegades.