Sturt shows strength with bat and ball to defeat Southern District in women’s grade cricket grand final

Sturt completed the perfect end to its fairytale rise in women’s grade cricket, recording a stellar seven-wicket victory against Southern District in the grand final at Karen Rolton Oval on Sunday.

Sturt players celebrate a wicket during the grand final triumph over Southern District. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

• Southern and Sturt book spots in women’s grand final

Sturt captain Eliza Bartlett says she never once doubted her group had the ability to win the grade cricket women’s grand final after a stellar seven-wicket victory against Southern District at Karen Rolton Oval on Sunday.

Boosted by the inclusion of Australian quick Megan Schutt, the Blues bowled the Stingrays out for 104 and reached 3/107 in 29 overs to secure an unlikely triumph.

It was the club’s first women’s one-day flag since 2010/11.

Sturt won its final minor-round match to sneak into the finals and then upset top side Northern Districts to reach the decider.

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Bartlett said she never questioned her side, despite coming into the finals series as underdogs.

“It’s the best grand final I’ve ever been in, and I’ve been in a few, but doing it with these girls just makes it even better,” Bartlett said.

“It’s been a strange year, it was a bit up and down.

“I think we won two minor round games for the year with a couple of forfeits.

“It was one of those things that I thought would come together in two years time but its come together in two weeks instead.”

Sturt was led by a player-of-the match performance from Stacey Oates, who took 4/37, while Sarah Carver snared 3/5 and Schutt picked up 2/15.

Southern’s Donna Clark (25) and Jess O’Reilly (10) put on 30 for the first wicket before a 4/10 top-order collapse had it reeling.

Late runs pushed the Stingrays to a defendable total.

But Sturt took control from the first over of its innings as Annie O’Neil blasted seven fours in her 29 runs from 24 balls to get her side off to a perfect start.

Alex Price (24*), Emma de Broughe (14) and Rhianna Peate (14) guided the Blues home.

Sturt wicketkeeper Eliza Bartlett celebrates as Southern’s batter Cara Allen is bowled. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

It was Southern’s first women’s A-grade grand final appearance.

The Stingrays had previously finished either fifth or sixth on the ladder every season since 2011/12.

Southern skipper O’Reilly said her side would learn from the game and how to handle the big moments.

“We just didn’t play well enough and we didn’t put the runs on the board that we needed,” O’Reilly said.

“We’ll just keep building from here.

“It’s the start of something special down south.”

Southern enjoyed some success, winning the B-grade grand final over Adelaide University.

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