NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: Gordon pair Olivia Callaghan and Asmi Bhanage’s landmark knock
When Olivia Callaghan and Asmi Bhanage headed out to bat last Sunday, there was no indication the schoolgirls would smash a record set by two Aussie Test legends.
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Olivia Callaghan and Asmi Bhanage, remember the names.
The schoolgirl knockabouts are now the toast of NSW Women’s Premier Cricket following their astonishing 466-run unbeaten opening partnership.
Still only 15, the Gordon club cricketers from Sydney's upper north shore showed the opposition bowlers no mercy in a second grade contest against Universities at Beauchamp Park, Chatswood.
Still buzzing with excitement days after Gordon’s 236-run victory, NewsLocal caught up with the record breakers prior to their training commitments with the NSW U16 Metropolitan squad.
“Initially we focused on keeping the good balls out and then finding the singles,” said Callaghan, who finished on an even 200 runs.
“That initial confidence built the partnership early on and we were able to just keep pushing throughout the rest of the innings.”
And push they did.
Callaghan rattled the pickets 35 times and cleared them once in her 165-ball knock, while Asmi hit 27 boundaries while compiling 196 runs off just 145 deliveries.
Scored at a blistering 9.32 runs per over, the partnership surpassed the previous record for Sydney women’s grade cricket of 387 set by Test legends Rachael Haynes and Alex Blackwell in 2013/14.
“Oh, wow. We didn't know that,” said a surprised Callaghan, before offering an insight into the ongoing euphoria.
“It has been really nice, we have received lots of encouragement and our dads are super proud – they really love their cricket.
“My Instagram lit up and I also heard from former teammates from primary school. Even my friend’s coach found out, and random boys I used to play cricket with.”
On a day where minimal chances were offered, the girls said they were impressed by Universities’ persistent application in the field, but if they had one wish it would be that they both finished with a double century.
“Once I reached 100, I just accelerated and it felt like every second ball was going to the boundary,” Bhanage said.
“I knew I was getting close and Olivia was giving me the strike. I even hit the final two balls for four, but unfortunately just fell short.”
The final total of 466 also fell short, just six runs away from the highest ever team score in any grade, while Callaghan’s even double ton ranks third on the women’s list of top scores.
For those keen to catch the pair in action, they are scheduled to pad up again on Sunday in a T20 match at Harold Fraser Reserve, Kogarah Bay.
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