NSW Women’s Premier Cricket and U18s Brewer Shield: Round 4 wrap and team of the week for each grade

Round seven of the NSW Women’s Premier Cricket and U18s Brewer Shield delivered some outstanding individual performances. NewsLocal names the best XI for every grade. SEE TEAM LISTS HERE

A ton at Killara Park and a five wicket bag at Raby headlined round seven of the U18s Brewer Shield. Here’s how the weekend’s games played out and who made the NewsLocal best XI.

ROUND 4 WRAP - BREWER SHIELD U18s

Last week it was Emily Powell who raised the bat after hitting the season’s first ton. This week her opening partner Holly Toms joined the party.

With a dashing 103, the consistent right-hander piloted Sydney past Gordon’s 167 at Killara Park with 20 overs to spare.

Unbeaten, her total included 19 fours and one six and came off just 110 balls. In what is shaping as a massive season, Toms has now struck 311 runs in six innings at an eye watering average of 103.

Holly Toms of the Sydney U18s girls. Picture: Contributed

Over at Raby, Penrith’s Isabella Bradley-Labra announced herself with a breakout performance with the ball. Ripping through the lower order, she finished with 5 for 8 as the Ghosts crumbled to be all out for 34 inside 14 overs. Penrith eased past the target in the eighth over.

It was a big week for Greater Hunter Coast’s Caoimhe Bray. After being named in the NSW under-19s Country squad for next month’s nationals in Perth, the 13-year-old all-rounder finished with 3 for 31 in UTS North Sydney’s 149.

Then in combination with Mia Cook (61), the right-hander showed her class with the bat. Contributing 43 off 38 deliveries, the pair added 88 for the second wicket to help guide Hunter Coast to a comfortable six wicket win.

Caoimhe Bray of the Greater Hunter Coast U18s girls. Picture: Contributed

St George-Sutherland opening bowler Taleha Urszulak struck early against Illawarra before finishing with 3 for 13 from six overs. Lucia Martin (3/10) provided valuable support as the home side struggled to be all out for 98 in the 32nd over. Garwa Li (41*) and Bianca Lozell (28*) then powered the Slayers home inside 14 overs.

In a round where all six matches were won by the chasing team, it was Manly who almost broke the trend. Bowled out for 121, where Parra bowler Marlie Pathirana took the honours with 4 for 36, for the most part, Manly were never in the contest.

Parramatta then cruised to 86 for the loss of just three wickets, before Manly’s Lara Hughes turned the match on its head. Her 3 for 25 saw Parramatta’s lower order crumble, before Aarna Patel (22*) steered her side across the line for a nail biting one wicket victory.

At Asquith, a patient 45 from opener Manat Kaur was the feature for Northern District’s 168 against Bankstown. They were on track for a much bigger score until Katie Brook struck with four late wickets. In reply, Jessica Robertson (56) and Bareen Haider (49) put on a partnership of 115 runs as Bankstown mowed down the target for the loss of three wickets in just under 30 overs.

BREWER SHIELD U18s TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Manat Kaur, Northern District (45 runs)
2. Holly Toms, Sydney (103* runs)
3. Mia Cook, Greater Hunter Coast (61 runs)
4. Shiloh Y Julien, UTS North Sydney (51 runs)
5. Jessica Robertson, Bankstown (56 runs)
6. Bareen Haider, Bankstown (49 runs)
7. Caoimhe Bray, Greater Hunter Coast (43 runs, 3/31)
8. Marlie Pathirana, Parramatta (17 runs, 4/36)
9. Katie Abrook, Bankstown (4/4)
10. Lucia Martin, St George-Sutherland (3/10)
11. Isabella Bradley-Labra, Penrith (5/8)

NSW WOMEN’S PREMIER CRICKET - SENIOR GRADES

EVERY week NewsLocal will rate our teams of the week from all three senior grades of the NSW Women’s Premier Cricket season.

Here’s who made the cut for round seven.

FIRST GRADE

1. Kate Pelle, Parramatta (63 runs)
2. Zoya Thakur, Parramatta (54 runs)
3. Shivani Mehta, Manly (75* runs)
4. Kinjal Kumari, Gordon (66* runs)
5. Rhiannon Dick, St George-Sutherland (60 runs, 1/11)
6. Ava Ryan, Northern District (80 runs)
7. Zoe Murdoch, Parramatta (53 runs)
8. Alexandra Mavros, Parramatta (34* runs, 3/51)
9. Mikaela Turik, Manly (3/25)
10. Elizebath Barkat, Campbelltown Camden (4/27)
11. Abby Burrows, St George-Sutherland (3/22)

SECOND GRADE

1. Mia Nel, Manly (38 runs, 3/27)
2. Grace Keating, Sydney (39 runs)
3. Juliette Morton, St George-Sutherland (38* runs, 1/7)
4. Taara Kotibhaskar, Gordon (62 runs)
5. Eva Ragg, Sydney (55 runs)
6. Laura Emily Metry, Sydney (44 runs, 1/4)
7. Aimee Longhurst, Sydney (46* runs, 1/13)
8. Asmi Bhanage, Gordon (3/12)
9. Gunisha Garg, Penrith (20 runs, 4/22)
10. Alana McEnearney, St George-Sutherland (3/25)
11. Kallie Gumm, Northern District (3/23)

THIRD GRADE

1. Stephanie Gillett, St George-Sutherland (66 runs) 1
2. Stephanie Hughes, Manly (58* runs)
3. Elizabeth Cambridge, Gordon (51 runs)
4. Renee Hough, Manly (49* runs)
5. Sophia Mavros, Parramatta (72* runs)
6. Catherine Wilson, St George-Sutherland (53* runs) 3
7. Melissa Halton, Parramatta (22 runs, 1/30)
8. Sarah Abdulwahab, Campbelltown Camden (3/16)
9. Shannon MazurKiewicz, Bankstown (3/9)
10. Nanthana Bhavan, UTS North Sydney (3/2)
11. Isabella Tesoriero, Parramatta (3/14)

ROUND 7 WRAP - FIRST GRADE

In a week when the first step towards national selection occurred with the naming of the NSW Under-19s squads for next month’s National Championships in Perth, Merrylands Park was given an early treat.

Up against a Northern District side fielding six members from the NSW under-19s Country squad, Parramatta young guns Kate Pelle (63) and Zoya Thakur (54) got the ball rolling. At better than a run-a-ball, the NSW under-19 Metro pair put on 118 runs for the opening wicket.

Zoe Murdoch (53) continued the onslaught before Alexandra Mavros, another basking in Metro selection, hit a brisk 34 to see the home side finish at 9 for 278 from their 50 overs.

Kate McTaggart in the field for Northern District against Parramatta in the NSW Women's Premier Cricket first grade match at Merrylands Park, Merrylands, 20 November 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Alexandra Mavros bowling for Parramatta versus Northern District in the NSW Women's Premier Cricket first grade match at Merrylands Park, Merrylands, 20 November 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Kate McTaggart (2/15) claimed the best figures for Northern District. The 16-year-old from Newcastle showed why she’s headed to the nationals, trapping Thakur in front, before knocking over skipper Sophie Vaughan for a duck.

Undeterred, Vaughan struck back early in the Northern District reply. Setting the standard for a superb afternoon in the field, the captain produced a spectacular run out, dismissing form opener Grace Dignam for 14.

From there, Mavros generated good pace and struck twice with the score on 28.
The visitors then slumped further before Ava Ryan steadied the ship. Making the most of her weekly trip from South West Rocks, the under-19s Country wicketkeeper also made the most of a rare opportunity up the order.

Batting at no. 5, the right-hander was flawless, and up until she was run out for 80, Northern District were still in the mix.

Grace Dignam batting for Northern District versus Parramatta in the NSW Women's Premier Cricket first grade match at Merrylands Park, Merrylands, 20 November 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson

In the wash up, Mavros finished with three poles, the only multiple wicket taker in a Northern District total of 191 that included four heartbreaking run outs.

The win sees Parramatta jump to second place on the first grade ladder with Northern District retaining fifth spot.

For Mavros, after six rounds of T20’s, the longer format was a welcome change.

Zoya Thakur bowling for Parramatta versus Northern District in the NSW Women's Premier Cricket first grade match at Merrylands Park, Merrylands, 20 November 2022. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“We started off really well with the bat, just a really good performance with the three girls getting half centuries and then we backed it up with a ball,” said the 15-year-old after belting out the club song with teammates.

“I enjoyed spending some time in the middle with the bat. It was really fun to be out there, because I felt that I didn't really bowl that great.”

After a three wicket return, it sounds like a harsh self assessment. But having conceded 51 runs off nine overs, the right-arm quick knows what has to change.

“It all just comes with experience out in the middle, I guess. Hopefully with the nationals coming up I can improve my rhythm.”