NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 1 wrap, Team of the Week

A selection of stars hit the opening round of the NSW Women’s U18s Brewer Shield in top form, delivering quality performances on either side of the ball. See who made our Team of the Week.

From Brewer Shield to Sydney Sixers: Greater Hunter Coast’s Caoimhe Bray (L) celebrates with Sixers teammates after taking a wicket at North Sydney Oval on October 12, 2024. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

A mix of new and old make up our Brewer Shield Team of the Week.

There’s regulars like Aditi Shidore and Olivia Pelly, while Ella Davidson and Evie O’Brien have made their debuts.

See who else made the cut in our first Team of the Week for season 2024-25.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND ONE

1. Aditi Shidore (Campbelltown Camden)

The Ghosts skipper did the heavy lifting with 51 off 58. Found the fence on six occasions and cleared it once, before backing it up with two wickets.

2. Olivia Pelly (Sydney)

The ace in the Sydney pack, Pelly put the foot down from the outset with nine boundaries in a classy 49 off 33. With the game still in the balance, she then returned to pick up two crucial wickets in the final over.

Olivia Pelly delivered all-round magic. Supplied: Sydney Cricket Club

3. Camryn Harland (Bankstown)

Harland was a class above against Sydney Uni, putting the result to bed with a commanding 65 off 55 that included 11 fours.

4. Athira Dilip Kumar (Blacktown)

Outstanding on debut for Blacktown, Kumar picked up a couple of wickets and dominated with the bat scoring an unbeaten 49 from 55 at the top of the order.

5. Diya Sambrane (Gordon)

A shining light for Gordon, the spinner snared one wicket from three tidy overs before racing through the gears with 46 off 35 deliveries in an innings that included eight boundaries.

6. Nicola Hudson (Southern Swans)

The skipper set the scene for the Swans victory with an elegant 44 not out off 41. Took the new ball and kept the Blacktown innings in check, conceding just 18 from four tidy overs.

7. Isobel Glen (Sydney)

Played second fiddle to Pelly at the top of the order with a patient 23 off 39. Broke the game open in the field, running out Gordon’s two major threats.

Banktown’s Camryn Harland had her eye in from ball one in the opening round. Picture: Contributed

8. Evie O’Brien (Greater Hunter)

The Newcastle local impressed on Brewer debut. Ice cool at the top of the order, she struck four boundaries in a slick 22 off 24, before bamboozling North Sydney’s best with a match-winning 4/8.

9. Milla Bruce (Bankstown)

The quick dashed Uni’s run chase with an early breakthrough, before cleaning up the tail to finish the day with 3/6 from 3.2 overs

10. Natasha Galeano (St George Sutherland)

The Canberra local announced herself in style, shutting down the Bears’ innings with a game defining four overs that yielded a spectacular 4/12.

11. Ella Davidson (Northern District)

The Central Coast surprise packet took the new ball and the prized wicket of Lily Hreszczuk in her second over. Eventually returned home with a commendable 3/11 off four overs.

ROUND ONE WRAP

Round one of the Brewer Shield kicked off on Sunday with all seven games of the U18s women’s competition following the 20-over format.

There were plenty of new faces on show, while several familiar names showed they haven't lost their touch.

Here’s how all the action unfolded.

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GREATER HUNTER CELEBRATE EARLY

Even before a ball was bowled on Sunday against UTS North Sydney, Greater Hunter Coast were already in celebration mode.

With last season’s Brewer Shield grand final hero Caoimhe Bray having already suited up for the Sydney Sixers in the T20 Spring Challenge at North Sydney Oval, there were plenty of excited faces at Merewether’s Townson Oval.

Sixers bowler Caoimhe Bray celebrates the wicket of Heat batter Laura Harris during the T20 Spring Challenge match at North Sydney Oval, October 12. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Thankfully for coach Chris Wharton, the 15-year-old’s exploits on Friday and Saturday failed to derail his side as a couple of new faces stood tall in a 41-run victory.

After electing to bat, skipper Felicity Wharton (47 not out off 57 balls) top scored in the home side’s 5/124. Wicketkeeper Mia Gentle (21 off 15) closed out the 20 overs in style, while fellow debutant Evie O’Brien (22 off 24) hit four boundaries at the top of the order in an entree of what was to come.

In reply, Norths were restricted to 83. Opener Ekmehar Kaur Sidhu top scored with 19 in a total that included 30 extras.

O’Brien returned with the ball, spinning the Coast to an opening round win with an astonishing 4/8 from her allotted four overs.

“Both Evie and Mia were playing their first game of Brewer,” said Chris Wharton.

“Evie is 14, and she kept enticing the batters with well flighted off-spin and the wickets followed. She’s a local girl from Newcastle City. Mia is new to the club too, she travels all the way from Tamworth and also scored runs in the recent Country Championships.

“It was good to open with a win. North Sydney are a strong side, but we took all our catches and set a high standard in the field.”

GHOSTS STRIKE EARLY

Campbelltown Camden’s Aditi Shidore continued where she left off from last season, blasting a match winning 51 from 58 deliveries in the Ghosts’ 51-run win over Northern District.

Having topped 500 runs last season, the opener was all class at Raby and alongside Jessica Bramble (27* off 41), the pair guided the home side to a competitive 3/117.

In a new-look team, Central Coast recruit Ella Davidson proved a shining light for the Rangers. The new ball bowler’s accuracy was rewarded with 3/11 off fours overs.

Northern District could only muster 66 in reply. Trushna Hadawle (3-5) and Sahasra Meenakshi Chennamaneni (3-6) were the chief destroyers for Campbelltown Camden.

Jessica Bramble showed the form that saw her selected for Greater Illawarra. Picture: Sue Graham

GORDON RUN OUT OF TOWN

Olivia Pelly (49 off 33) struck nine boundaries at Chatswood Oval as Sydney posted a commanding 3/135 against Gordon.

But it hardly looked enough when Diya Sambrane and captain Victoria Marsh grabbed the chase by the scruff of the neck in a second-wicket stand of 66.

Sambrane was particularly savage. In fulfilling a promise to lift her strike rate, the right-hand opener struck 46 from 35 balls and received solid support from Marsh who look unfazed in compiling 40 from 51.

Unfortunately for the Stags, both fell victim to Isobel Glen, who ran out both players with a couple of match winning plays.

Needing 13 off the final over, Gordon weren’t without a chance. But their hopes faded with the departure of Marsh and another two wickets to Pelly (2-31).

SWANS GO BIG

A strong all-round batting performance carried Southern to victory over Blacktown after the Swans posted an opening round high score of 5/154.

After electing to bat at Storey Park, captain Nicola Hudson remained unbeaten on 44 off 41 balls as all top five Swans batters posted scores of 13 or better.

Tanishka Reddy (2/19) and Athira Dilip Kumar (2-21) were the pick of the Blacktown bowlers, and the duo backed it up with the bat in an opening wicket partnership of 70.

Reddy was run out for 42 before Blacktown eventually fell 27 runs short of the target. Kumar delivered on her potential, scoring an unbeaten 49 from 55 balls.

Tanishka Reddy for Blacktown Mounties versus Southern Swans at Storey Park, October 13. Picture: Moments with Jazz Photography

AROUND THE GROUNDS

After restricting Penrith to 7/81, Parramatta cruised to a nine-wicket victory inside 11 overs at Merrylands.

Charli O’Hare (28 off 40) top scored for the Panthers, while Georgia Aldridge (2-5, 4 overs) and leg-spinner Natalie Williams (2-9, 4 overs) proved difficult to get away.

Following a stint with UTS North Sydney, Sharon Julien opened the batting for Parramatta and quickly mowed down the target to finish 46 not out from just 33 balls.

At Harold Fraser Reserve, St George-Sutherland got the better of Manly with two overs to spare in a low scoring contest.

Arabella Handley top scored for Manly. Supplied: Manly Warringah CC

Manly captain Arabella Handley (43* off 37) stood out in the visitors’ 5/93, in an innings where ACT recruit Natasha Galeano impressed with 4/12 from four overs.

Pathways all-rounder Taylor McMahon sparkled in reply, top scoring with 40 off 53 as the Slayers reached the target for the loss of two wickets.

Bankstown opened their account with a 41-run victory at Sydney University.

Bankstown’s Camryn Harland (65* off 55) saw off a dangerous opening spell from Ruby Carter (2/11, 4 overs) before reaching top gear to post the highest score of the round.

Chasing a target of 122 for victory, Uni never really got going and were undone by the pace of Milla Bruce who finished with 3/6.