NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield, Wk-1 finals Team of the Week
It was do-or-die in the opening week of the U18s Brewer Shield finals, and despite the rise in pressure this week’s top XI showed why they’re a class above. Week-one finals, Team of the Week.
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It was do-or-die in the opening week of the U18s Brewer Shield finals as four teams battled to survive another week.
Undeterred by the rise in pressure, this week’s top XI showed why they’re a class above.
Week-one finals, Team of the Week.
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U18S BREWER SHIELD STATS: EVERY PLAYER RANKED
TEAM OF THE WEEK: WEEK-1 FINALS
1. Amelia Valdez (Southern Swans)
Finals time came at the right time for the Swans opener. After lean run with the bat, the state rep stamped her class with a match winning 69 runs. Backed it up in the field with 2/38 and also took a catch and featured in two run outs.
2. Matilda Brown (Manly Warringah)
After taking 2/39, the right-arm speedster grabbed the game by the scuff of the neck. Desperate not to get bogged down in pursuit of Penrith’s 145, Matilda opened the batting for the first time this season and got her side away to a flyer with 29 off 35.
3. Keira Terrey (Manly Warringah)
One of the success stories of the season, the Manly opener remained unbeaten on 61 but it was with the ball where she continued to surprise. Only became a regular in the bowling attack in the closing rounds and once again hit the spot with her offies, bowling six maidens and taking 1/11.
4. Ella Yates (Southern Swans)
A key contributor in the Swans’ win over Greater Hunter. Ella struck an unbeaten 54 and added 51 for the third-wicket with Amelia Valdez.
5. Japleen Kaur (Penrith)
A mainstay of the Penrith top order, Japleen helped rebuild the innings following the loss of two early wickets. Struck seven fours and threatened to take the game away from Manly until a stunning outfield catch ended her innings on 47.
6. Layla Graham (Greater Hunter)
Couldn’t have done much more in her side’s narrow loss. Opened the bowling and despite finishing without a wicket, Layla kept the score in check with 0/24 from 10 overs. Her quickfire 30 off 26 was enough to get Greater Hunter within striking distance of victory in the final overs.
7. Karly Woods (Penrith)
Arrived at the wicket with Penrith struggling at 5/98. Breathing life into the innings, Karly launched a six and plundered five boundaries in a blistering 29 off just 23 balls.
8. Saoirse Ford (Manly Warringah)
A solid contributor for Manly, the skipper took 2/11 and then showed patience at No.3 in the seven-wicket win.
9. Natalia Egan (Southern Swans)
Led the Swans attack from the outset with 1/35 from 10 overs, and showed her class in the field. Effected the run out of Greater Hunter’s top scorer and was on hand to assist with another two run outs in a frenetic finish.
10. Charlotte Allen (Manly Warringah)
Sucked the life out of Penrith’s innings with two crucial new-ball breakthroughs and finished the innings with 3/20 off eight overs.
11. Evie West (Greater Hunter)
A typical never-say-die performance from the Greater Hunter opening bowler. Struck early in her first spell and returned later to finish the day with 3/39 from nine overs.
SEMI FINALS: SUNDAY, MARCH 9
Gordon (1st) v Manly Warringah (4th), Chatswood Oval
St George-Sutherland (2nd) v Southern Swans (3rd), Harold Fraser Reserve
ELIMINATION FINALS WRAP
With the opening week of the finals done and dusted, four sides remain in the race for the U18s Brewer Shield. See who starred and what the coaches had to say after Sunday’s elimination finals.
SWANS FLIP THE SCRIPT
The Southern Swans’ title dream is still alive after the Illawarra girls ended Greater Hunter’s premiership defence by nine runs in a final over thriller at Port Kembla.
The victory, Southern’s second in three outings against their regional rivals this season came after opener Amelia Valdez (69 off 119 balls) and Ella Yates (54* off 84) guided them to a commanding 6/188.
Evie West was the only Hunter multiple wicket-taker with 3/39, but found solid support from new-ball partner Layla Graham (0/24, 10 overs) and spinner Cosette Thomas (1/21, 10 overs).
Hunter were cautious in reply, and when Mia Gentle (29 from 110) departed it was 2/76 in the 35th over. Evie O’Brien top scored (40 off 82) before she became the first of five run outs in what turned out to be a chaotic finish.
Graham (30 off 26) and skipper Felicity Wharton (24 off 23) picked up the pace and with two overs remaining it was 6/171 and still anyone's game.
Desperate to keep their season alive, the Hunter girls challenged the Southern fielders but finished on the wrong end of the scoreboard when Bronte Morgan was the last fall with the score on 179 after she became the fourth run out in the space of 11 deliveries.
“It got a bit crazy at the end again, just like when they beat us two weeks ago,” said Swans co-coach Aaron Hudson.
“Both sides are very similar, a lot of them play cricket together in country carnivals and against each other and are good friends as well. But it was a great game, probably too good a game for one side to be eliminated.”
On a ground not traditionally known for producing high scores, Hudson was delighted with his side’s top order
“The girls posted a great score. Our home ground is not renowned for big totals at the best of times,” said Hudson.
“Amelia has probably been due a big score, so to get one in a finals match was good. And it was good to see Ella return to scoring form as well.
“It was a strange game, both the opening attacks cancelled each other out for about 20 overs. I guess we had the benefit of runs on the board, so they had to chase with the added pressure.”
Now one game shy of a grand final, Southern head north on Sunday for a clash with St George-Sutherland.
“It looks like we’ll have everyone available,” said Hudson.
“We did have a little injury scare with all-rounder Ebony Winston. She cut the webbing in her hand, but at this stage it sounds like she will be available on the weekend.”
Southern Swans 6/188, 50 overs (Valdez 69, Yates 54*; West 3/39, Thomas 1/21, Morgan 1/24, Wharton 1/35) defeated Greater Hunter Coast 10/179, 49.5 overs (O’Brien 40, Graham 30, Gentle 29; Valdez 2/38, Cody 1/5, Dragovic 1/25, Egan 1/35) at King George V, Port Kembla
MANLY MARCH ON
Manly have moved one game closer to consecutive grand final appearances after they eliminated Penrith with a clinical seven-wicket victory at Manly Oval.
Charlotte Allen (3/20, eight overs) set the scene for the home side. The energetic quick removed both openers to make it 2/11 before Japleen Kaur (47 off 115) continued her breakout season, holding the innings together before some late fireworks from Charli O’Hare (21 off 33) and Karly Woods saw Penrith finish their 50 overs on 8/145.
But it was never going to be enough. Keira Terrey (61* off 89) and Matilda Brown (29 off 35) added a quickfire 72 for the first wicket before Brown was run out in the 14th over.
With the damage already done, Manly cruised home in the 28th over to book a semi final clash with minor premiers Gordon.
“Charlotte really started off well for us,” said Manly coach Bill McLerie.
“She had a real glint in her eye and was aggressive at the start with the ball, which set the tone for our whole fielding side.
“But credit to Penrith, they rebounded and it was a only a magic catch from Eve Burke that ended Japleen’s innings. She held it running along the boundary, and managed to control her steps so she stayed in the field of play - it was a game changing moment.
“Then Karly Woods threatened to take the game away at the end of Penrith’s innings. She was hammering the bowling, so it was a relief when Matilda (2/39, 10 overs) got her out.”
Far from comfortable with making the finals, McLerie continues to tinker with his side for maximum output in an effort to go one better after going down to Greater Hunter in last year’s decider.
“We’ve turned Keira into an off-spinner and that has worked really well. She bowled 10 overs and took 1/11 with six maidens, she just puts the ball on the spot every time,” said McLerie.
“We made changes to the batting order too. Matilda opened and really came through for us, picking up the run rate with Keira who continues to shine at the top of the order.
“Now we look forward to playing Gordon again. We had a good game against them earlier in the year, they beat us by 20-odd runs, so the girls are looking forward to having another crack against them.”
Penrith 8/145, 50 overs (Kaur 47, Woods 29, O’Hare 21, Mellis 21; Allen 3/20, Ford 2/11, Brown 2/39, Terrey 1/11) lost to Manly Warringah 3/147, 27.5 overs (Terrey 61*, Brown 29; Gill 1/16, Mouwen 1/22) at Manly Oval
SEMI FINALS: SUNDAY, MARCH 9
Gordon (1st) v Manly Warringah (4th), Chatswood Oval
St George-Sutherland (2nd) v Southern Swans (3rd), Harold Fraser Reserve
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