One of three Tasmanians competing in the six-team T20 competition, the 18-year-old former Riverside talent skippered Victoria through to the final while bludgeoning 284 runs in six innings at an average of 96.

Having made scores of 73 not out in the opener and an unbeaten 84 off 52 balls in the semi-final, Manix-Geeves again fired in the decider with 65 off 48, but had little support as the Victorians fell 46 runs short of New South Wales’ 2-168. 

“It was lovely to find some form and hit some runs,” Manix-Geeves said before returning to her home state on Tuesday evening. 

“It was a pity our girls couldn’t get over the line in the final but it was great to finally see the hard work paying off, I’ve put a lot of effort into my game over the past six months.”

A skilled wicketkeeper, Manix-Geeves relinquished the gloves during the championships to help bolster the Victorian bowling attack and took five wickets from 23 overs.

A tight 1-14 against Queensland was her best spell of the tournament. 

““I probably [bowl a bit] at training just to entertain myself – I talk a bit of smack to the girls if I get them out,” Manik-Geeves joked. 

“The last couple of months I’ve been working on my leggies a little bit to try and add another string to my bow.

“I love having a run around in the field and we were short on bowlers most games, so I’ve been throwing down some leggies and seeing how they go - they haven’t been excellent but they’ve done the job at times.”

A Former Hobart Hurricanes Northern rookie, Manix-Geeves’ next challenge is to break into a Tasmanian side which recorded its best-ever finish to a WNCL season earlier this month.

Two twelfth man gigs to finish the season suggest the right-hander is not far from achieving that goal when the new season begins later this year. 

“It’s a pretty good team at the moment so it’ll be tough, but I’m loving being around the girls and hopefully next year I might get a look in for a game.

“I think my game has improved immensely over the last six months - the new Tassie coach [Salliann Briggs] I think has been great for Tassie cricket and our team.

“I think my batting’s definitely improved a lot, my fitness has definitely improved and I’m feeling good about my cricket at the moment.”