NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield, Rd 13 Team of the Week
A seven-wicket superstar and a couple of dashing teammates grabbed the headlines in round 13 of the U18s Brewer Shield. See who made the Team of the Week.
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The overriding quality lifted a notch in round 13 of the U18s Brewer Shield.
The Bankstown pair of Ava Gaughan and Ruby Carlyon delivered all day at Olds Park, while a rising Bear continued to dominate for the second week in a row.
Round 13 Team of the Week.
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TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 13
1. Ava Gaughan (Bankstown)
Talk about a captain’s day out, Ava ticked just about every box at Olds Park. She lost the toss but made up for it with 89 at the top of the order, then returned later in the day with four wickets.
2. Ruby Carlyon (Bankstown)
Went run-for-run alongside Gaughan in a match winning opening stand of 155. And just like the Bankstown skipper, after her knock of 87, Ruby dominated in the afternoon with three catches behind the stumps.
3. Varada Vinay (UTS North Sydney)
In a must win clash, Varada delivered on both fronts to help sink Parramatta. Hammered the boundary rope on 12 occasions in a majestic 89 off 115 balls, and turned the screws with the ball, taking 1/25 from nine overs.
4. Keira Terrey (Manly Warringah)
Unlucky not to score a ton, Keira carried her bat through 50 overs to finish unbeaten on 98. In a close finish, her five overs went wicketless but they only conceded 15 as Blacktown pressed hard for victory.
5. Kaya Kumar (Parramatta)
Did everything with the willow but carry Parramatta across the line against Norths. Cleared the Bon Andrews rope twice in a dominant 75 not out, and may have got the job done if she didn’t run out of partners.
Furthermore, 24 hours earlier Kaya blasted an unbeaten 164 for Hills Barbarians at Rouse Hill.
6. Diya Sambrane (Gordon)
Diya struck 58 off 124, and although considerably slower than her average strike rate, it was exactly the type of innings Gordon needed in a low scoring contest on a difficult wicket.
7. Cosette Thomas (Greater Hunter)
Landing leg-spin on a regular basis in a major challenge, and it’s why Cosette’s five maiden overs are worthy of a spot in this team. In a narrow victory over Penrith, her figures of 3 for 8 from 10 overs were simply outstanding.
8. Eveline O’Farrell (Gordon)
Another spinner to shine ahead of the finals, Eveline’s 4/8 from nine overs came hot on the heels of a three-wicket return in round 12.
9. Lana Sredojevic (UTS North Sydney)
She may well have started the season in hibernation, but Lana is one Bear rapidly making up for lost time. Had a stormer in round 12 and backed it up with seven wickets to sink Parra in another game changing performance.
According to Cricket NSW statistician Adam Morehouse, Lana’s figures of 7/22 are the third best return by a bowler in Brewer Shield.
10. April Foulcher (St George-Sutherland)
Despite being on the wrong end of the scoreboard, the Slayers’ quick bowled her heart out and left Olds Park with a hat-trick against her name and 3/19 off nine overs.
11. Ebony Winston (Southern Swans)
The Swans quick rarely has a bad day with the ball and didn’t shirk her responsibility against NDs. Snared two early wickets and strangled the scoring with 3/10 in 8.1 overs.
ROUND 13 WRAP
Another round, another series of twists. That’s the U18s Brewer Shield in 2024-25, a cracking race with more than a handful of genuine contenders.
Bankstown and UTS North Sydney headed into Sunday’s round with no room for error, while Parramatta and Greater Hunter jostled for sixth spot.
Here’s how another sensational weekend played out. Round 13 wrap.
MASSIVE STAND KEEPS BANKSTOWN ALIVE
With their season on the line, Bankstown openers Ava Gaughan and Ruby Carlyon came out all guns blazing at Olds Park, joining forces in a stunning partnership of 155 that propelled their side to a surprising 96-run victory over St George Sutherland.
Coming off back-to-back losses and fighting for a spot in the top-six, the pair embraced the pressure in style, shifting through the gears as Bankstown reached 7/215, its highest score of the season.
Leading from the front, when Gaughan departed in the 36th over the damage was done. With 10 fours and one six, the Bankstown skipper had passed fifty for the second time this season before she fell for 89 off 119 balls.
Known for her power, Carlyon found the rope on 13 occasions in her 45 overs at the crease. Reaching her first half century of the season she was poised for triple figures until she holed out for 87 off 128.
In a bright spot for St George-Sutherland, April Foulcher’s (3/19, nine overs) toil in the heat was rewarded with a hat-trick in the last over. The Slayers medium pacer hit the jackpot after her first two deliveries were hit to the safe hands of Ella Cattley.
Although, things didn’t get any better for the Slayers who slipped to fifth spot after they were bowled out for 119. Jessica McMillan (2/16, seven overs) struck two early blows, while Gaughan rounded out one of the finest all-round performances of the season with 4/11.
“Ava and Ruby took their chances early and put a lot of pressure back on St George-Sutherland in the field,” said Bankstown manager Scott Metcalfe.
“Once the field was set back they really went to town and put on a good score.”
“Then with the ball, everyone did a job. Zoe Wood (3/18, six overs) took the crucial wicket of Taylor McMahon, but I take my hat off to the girls, it was a team performance from one to 11.”
Now in eighth spot, to have any chance of playing finals Bankstown will need to maintain the rage with victories in their final two matches. And it doesn’t get any easier next week.
“Today shows that we can match it with the top teams,” said Metcalfe. “We’ve got Gordon at home next week, and there’s no reason why we can’t put on another strong showing.”
STAGS BRUSH SLOW START
Ladder leaders Gordon returned to winning form with an 80-run win over Campbelltown Camden in a low scoring contest at Raby.
In a crucial innings, Diya Sambrane returned to form with a game-high 58 off 124 balls as the Ghosts rolled the Stags for 147 in 50 overs.
Up until that point it looked like an even contest. Ghosts quick Madison Eddie (3/30, nine overs) struck twice with the new ball and was well supported by Zahra Nasser (2/25, 10 overs), but the home side were unable to back it up with the bat.
NSW rep Aditi Shidore (27 off 30) top scored again before the last wicket fell with the score on 67. Spinner Eveline O’Farrell stood out with the ball, taking 4/8 from nine overs in Gordon’s 11th win.
BEARS HEADLINE LIST OF THRILLERS
UTS North Sydney edged out Parramatta in one of three nailbiting finishes in round 13.
With their finals ambitions still on life support, the Bears’ third win on the trot moves them to ninth, while Parra slide to seventh – needing at least another victory in the final two rounds to be any hope of returning to the top-six.
On a big day for captains, Varada Vinay was another to stand tall. With 89 off 115 deliveries she steered Norths to 5/186 in an innings where Varshaa Elango took 2/21 from 10 watertight overs.
After a slow start in reply, Sarah Bawcombe (49 off 88) and Kaya Kumar (75* off 98) put on 82 for the fourth wicket before Lana Sredojevic rocked the chase with one of the most lethal bowling performances of the season.
Returning to the attack after removing Parramatta kingpin Sharon Julien in the ninth over, Sredojevic sent Bawcombe packing with the score on 4/105. And the wickets kept mounting as the rapidly improving medium-pacer made short work of the middle order. With six of the final seven wickets to fall, the right-armer bagged 7/22 from 10 overs, bowling her side to a 19-run victory.
Manly locked down second spot with a slender seven-run win over Blacktown at Joe McAleer Oval.
Chasing the visitors’ 5/181, Keerti Vatul (35 off 34) looked like pulling off a miracle when Blacktown needed 17 for victory from the final over. Eight came off the first three legal balls, before Teaghan Ford (2/32, eight overs) extinguished the chase with back-to-back wickets.
Keira Terrey was the hero with the bat for Manly. Her unbeaten 98 off 163 balls stood out like a saw thumb on a Manly card where fellow opener Willa Pearson was next best with 25. Kuhu Nanda (2/25, seven overs) and Keya Patel (2/25, 10 overs) were the multiple wicket-takers for Blacktown.
Runs were like nuggets of gold in the Hunter where the home side crept past Penrith’s 92 for the loss of eight wickets. It might have been ugly, but Greater Hunter’s seventh win now sees the reigning premiers parked in sixth spot.
On a difficult wicket for batting, Emma Rippon hit 27 as Penrith were bowled out on the final ball of the 50th over. Seemingly well under par, it suddenly looked more than enough when the hosts crawled to 8/72 at the end of 46 overs.
In a spirited finish, Emma McRae (8* off 12) and Evie West (7* off 6) held their nerves in an important two-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.
SWANS LAND THIRD
Following on from last week’s victory over top side Gordon, the Southern Swans have moved to third place after downing Northern District by 38 runs at Port Kembla.
On another challenging deck, the home side opted to bat and were bowled out for 132 inside 49 overs. Georgia Lovegrove top scored with 29 at No.7, while NDs captain Zara Hepplewhite returned 3/18 from six overs.
Knocked over for 94, the Rangers were best served by Isobel O’Connell (22 off 56) and Lilly Hayhurst (21 off 59). Ebony Winston continued her good form, taking 3/10 from a touch more than eight overs.
Sydney University v Sydney, abandoned due to unplayable pitch.
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