NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 10 wrap, team of the week

Big tons and big wickets were the order of the week in the Women’s U18s Brewer Shield. Round 10 wrap and team of the week.

Layla Graham bowling for Greater Hunter and Manly's Elizabeth Cambridge. Round 10 U18s Brewer Shield, 2023-24.

Round 10 was a weekend for the patient opener in the U18s Brewer Shield with Elizabeth Cambridge setting up Manly’s win with her maiden century for the club.

At Blacktown, Amelia Crouch faced 132 deliveries to put Penrith on the road to victory with her crucial innings of 60.

There was plenty on offer for the bowlers too, as both Sydney’s Olivia Pelly and Sydney University’s Nadia Carvalho relieved their round nine heroics.

Here’s our best from round 10 and a full wrap of all the action.

BREWER SHIELD: ROUND 10 TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Elizabeth Cambridge, Manly Warringah (107* off 160 balls)
2. Amelia Crouch, Penrith (60 off 132)
3. Sam Kuncham, UTS North Sydney (77* off 65, 1-14)
4. Sophie McCrae, Greater Hunter (56 off 45)
5. Jazlyn Dennis, Greater Hunter (64 off 79)
6. Aarna Patel, Parramatta (51* off 87)
7. Sarah Bawcombe, Parramatta (60* off 96, 1-20)
8. Olivia Pelly, Sydney (33 off 38, 5-6)
9. Nadia Carvalho, Sydney University (6-17)
10. Georgia MacDonald, UTS North Sydney (3-8)
11. Darcey Whiteley, Manly Warringah (4-11)

Unstoppable: Elizabeth Cambridge hit 107 for Manly. Picture: Manly Warringah DCC

ROUND 10 WRAP

With several quality match-ups and just as many impressive performances, round 10 of the U18s Brewer Shield certainly had tongues wagging.

Manly’s Elizabeth Cambridge led the charge with the willow posting a fine century, while Sydney’s Olivia Pelly and Sydney University’s Nadia Carvalho doubled down on their stunning round nine efforts with the ball.

On the ladder, UTS North Sydney continued to climb, and second placed Greater Hunter showed why they’ll take some beating come the finals.

Round 10 wrap.

CAMBRIDGE CENTURY LIFTS MANLY

Opener Elizabeth Cambridge has returned to haunt her former club Gordon with a match winning 107 in Manly’s crushing 104-run victory at Mike Pawley Oval.

The right-hander struck 17 boundaries in a patient knock from 160 deliveries, and among the 14 wickets to fall it was one of only four double-figure scores posted on an at times difficult wicket.

For Manly chairman of selectors Ross Denny it rounded out a proud day for the club.

“It was Lizzie’s first ton for the club,” said Denny.

“She’s had a taste of first grade this season and returned to the Brewer Shield because our second grade team had a bye.

“She held the innings together when we lost a few wickets and was over the moon about batting through the entire innings. It was certainly a significant contribution, and in the end it helped the side claim a valuable bonus-point.”

In a memorable day for Manly, Cambridge joined first grade century-makers Lauren Kua and Georgia Adams.

Chasing Manly's 4-207, Gordon slumped to 4-16 and had no answer to Darcey Whiteley who rocked the top order with a commanding 4-11 from eight overs.

Jorja Horan was the best for Gordon. After picking up 1-14 off nine overs, she struck 55 in a disappointing total of 103.

BEARS BLITZ

UTS North Sydney have extended its winning streak to five after cruising past Campbelltown-Camden’s 109 for the loss of only one wicket.

Once again the Bears’ victory owed itself to a dominant bowling performance that saw the Ghosts knocked over in the 28th over.

Georgia MacDonald broke through Madison Eddie’s defence in the early overs, and the right-arm slinger returned later in the innings to finish with a season best 3-8 from five overs.

Outside of regular run scorers Aditi Shidore (19 off 39) and Aimee Bishop (43* off 58), the Ghosts didn’t have any other contributions greater than eight runs.

With a scorching 77 off 65 balls, you’d be forgiven for thinking Sam Kuncham had a plane to catch as the Norths opener made short work of the chase inside 20 overs.

UTS North Sydney all-rounder Sam Kuncham showed her class with the bat. Photo: UTS North Sydney (MTV)

PELLY-CARVALHO SHOOTOUT

Sydney cruised to a fourth straight victory after they humbled Sydney University by 82 runs on a day where all-rounder Olivia Pelly put on another masterclass.

Fresh from last week’s standout performance with bat and ball, Pelly (33 off 38) teamed with Ella Wade (41 off 91) to help guide Sydney to what initially seemed a below-par 10-138.

Uni’s Nadia Carvalho made the most of the favourable conditions and alongside new ball partner Ruby Carter (1-14) they struck two early blows.

But it was Carvalho who once again proved the destroyer. Coming off last week’s five-wicket haul, the tall right-arm quick returned late in the innings to blow away Sydney’s middle order on the way to a stunning 6-17 from 9.5 overs.

Not to be outdone, Pelly (5-6) decimated Uni’s top order as they crumbled in reply, bowled out for 56 inside 29 overs.

GREATER HUNTER STORM HOME

Greater Hunter won the battle of the high-flyers, downing St George-Sutherland by six-wickets to lock down second spot on the table.

It was a superb all-round effort by the Newcastle girls, while for the Slayers it was one of missed opportunities.

After electing to bat, Bianca Lozell (31 off 64) and Kayla Fergusson (26 off 83) saw off the lethal new ball pairing of Caoimhe Bray (2-11) and Monique Krake (1-6) in an opening stand of 53 before Lucia Martin (46 off 58) accelerated the score to 3-130 in the 38th over.

From a position of strength, the wheels fell off as the Slayers could only manage 6-32 in the closing 12 overs on the way to posting 9-162. Layla Graham (2-12) was one of six Hunter bowlers to finish among the wickets.

Greater Hunter’s Layla Graham picked up two wickets. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Openers Sophie McCrae (56 off 45) and Jazlyn Dennis (64 off 79) maintained the momentum for Hunter, and when McCrae departed in the 16th over with the score on 1-111, the bulk of the heavy lifting had been done.

Not even the loss of Bray (14 off 8) for a rare low score could halt the charge, with Greater Hunter sealing the win with 20 overs to spare.

CROUCH PATIENCE WINS OUT

A match defining 60 by opener Amelia Crouch has paved the way for Penrith to comfortably account for Blacktown by 130 runs at Joe McAleer Oval.

Asked to bat first, Crouch’s patient 132-ball knock allowed Manorath Gill (42 off 63) and Karly Woods (47 off 40) to pick up the tempo late as Penrith reached 6-215, their highest total of the season.

Amelia Crouch stood tall for Penrith at Blacktown. Picture: Kim Butler

Grace Rowan (3-11) continued to apply the pressure with the new ball taking two early wickets, including the prized scalp of Manat Kaur as Blacktown slumped to 2-11.

Keerti Vatul (20 off 60) top scored as the home side could only muster 85 in reply. Gill struck with two late wickets to cap off a memorable day, while Amy Corbett (2-14) stepped up taking her first two wickets of the season.

PARRA PAIR SEE OFF BANKSTOWN

Aarna Patel and Sarah Bawcombe’s unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 134 has seen Parramatta sink Bankstown to move to a share of fourth place on the ladder after round 10.

Chasing Bankstown’s 10-134, the pair joined forces when Vani Bhadana departed for a duck in the second over. Following a measured build up, both posted fifties as Parramatta charged to a second straight victory inside 32 overs.

Patel’s 51 off 87 deliveries was her third half century, while after a slow start to the season, Bawcombe posted a season-high 60.

Earlier, Jessica Robertson (45 off 67) and Bareen Haider (31 off 23) scored Bankstown’s only double digit scores as the home side slumped to all out in the 34th over.

Of Parramatta’s four multiple wicket-takers, medium pacer Amna Rahman (2-7) was the best alongside another strong performance from leg-spinner Natalie Williams (2-28).

NORTHERN DISTRICT V SOUTHERN SWANS

Abandoned.