NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 12 wrap
There were comebacks, cracking knocks and crazy returns with the ball as the players returned for round 12 of the Women’s U18s Brewer Shield. Full wrap of all seven matches.
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After more than a month on the sidelines, the rush towards the finals commenced with round 12 of the U18s Brewer Shield.
While many of the competition’s top players competed for NSW Metro and Country at the recent under-16 National Championships in Hobart, not all were available for their club sides on a weekend where Greater Hunter Coast took a step closer to claiming the minor premiership.
Among a host of memorable performances, Aditi Shidore continued to dominate with the bat for Campbelltown Camden, while in the same match, St George-Sutherland’s Caitlin Schofield proved unplayable in her first Brewer outing of the season.
All matches followed the 50-over format, round 12 wrap.
BEARS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
Can anyone stop UTS North Sydney?
A highly fancied Parramatta couldn’t, as the rampaging Bears swept them aside en route to a seventh consecutive victory.
On rough day for the home side, openers Neha Joshua (26 off 86 balls) and Vani Bhadana (10 off 14) posted the only double-digit scores in a disappointing total of 66, before Sam Kuncham (36* off 53) powered Norths to the target inside 15 overs.
Once again Kuncham’s fingerprints were all over another fine Bears performance. In addition to posting the top score of the match, the right-armer picked up 4-9 including the first three wickets as Parra slumped to 3-17 in the ninth over.
The loss leaves Parramatta clinging to fifth spot, just three points clear of the Slayers. But with several U16 NSW reps waiting in the wings and Joshua yet to return to action with the ball, Parra are anything but a spent force with three rounds remaining.
As for the third place Bears, well they just might meet their match on Sunday when they host competition leaders Greater Hunter Coast. In what shapes as one of the contests of the season, all roads lead to Tunks Park.
GORDON HANG ON
In the highest scoring match of the round, Gordon kept their slim finals hopes alive after edging out the vastly improved Southern Swans by 13 runs.
After making the trek to Port Kembla and deciding to bat, the Gordon girls bunkered down, seemingly determined to see out the 50 overs.
Diya Sambrane (19 off 68) and Victoria Marsh (7 off 41) saw off the new ball with a stand of 31 before Farrah Cody (1-15) knocked over Marsh with the final ball of the 13th over.
From there, Olivia Linfoot took over. In a match winning score of 73 off 85 balls, the captain held the innings together with several crucial partnerships before the final wicket fell in the last over with 187 on the board.
Sophia Galland (3-23) and Ebony Winston (3-19) picked up the bulk of the wickets for the Swans.
In reply, Georgia Lovegrove (41 off 70) and Katie Martin (32 off 61) put on 70 for the first wicket and with solid contributions from the top order, the Swans found themselves at 4-156 and well within striking distance of victory with nine overs remaining.
But in the space of two deliveries Gordon wrestled back the advantage. First, Ivy Platt (2-29) bowled the dangerous Nicola Hudson (27 off 46), then with the very next ball she trapped Ebony Winston LBW.
From there, the run rate escalated and the wickets continued to tumble until Jorja Horan (1-28) picked up the final wicket with the score on 174.
GHOSTS IN A SPIN
St George-Sutherland headed to Raby Oval missing several high performing regulars, but they found another along the way before eventually overpowering a committed Campbelltown Camden by four wickets.
Batting first, Aditi Shidore once again led the Ghosts to a position of strength. In a courageous display, the patient opener carried her bat through the entire 50 overs to finish unbeaten on 77 off 168 balls. Yet to be dismissed for a score below 12 in 11 starts, she’s now the competition leading run scorer with 395 at 49.38.
But what the Slayers missed in the absence of Sophie Clark, they gained with the addition of Caitlin Schofield.
A second grade regular, Schofield rocked the Ghosts’ top order, taking 5-15 from 10 overs with her pinpoint right-arm leg-spin.
Chasing 130 for victory, the Slayers needed answers at 4-56, and they arrived in the form of NSW Country rep Cadence Waters. In a dig of 41 not out off 63, she saw the side to a much needed seventh victory in the 35th over.
HUNTER DEPTH
You have to love the Greater Hunter Coast. No matter the result, there’s always a whirlwind of excitement surrounding their performance.
And last Sunday was no different when they hosted Bankstown at Townson Oval.
Although, the final ball madness of their round 11 escape over Northern District seemed a world away as Ava Gaughan (32 off 59) fronted Bankstown’s 10-146, in an innings where Jazlyn Dennis picked up 4-29.
With a strong batting line-up led by Caoimhe Bray, fresh from scoring the most runs at the under-16s nationals in Hobart, Hunter were expected to reach the target with minimal fuss.
But when Jazlyn Dennis was run out without facing from the first ball of the innings, local fans quickly shifted to the edge of their seats. Excitement turned to despair six deliveries later, as Rayani Jayawardana (2-19) dismissed Felicity Wharton without scoring.
Then with only five runs on the board, Milla Bruce (1-25) sent Bray packing for four and a major upset loomed.
Facing the prospect of slipping from top spot, Sophie McCrae scratched guard and then set about washing away Bankstown’s early work with a breezy 66 off 54 that included 11 fours and one six.
From the moment Bray was dismissed, Hunter only need another 21 overs to regain the momentum and race to a four-wicket win.
RANGERS BACK ON THE HORSE
Speaking of Northern District, they returned from the break with a dominant seven-wicket win over Sydney at Birchgrove Oval.
Phoebe Laws proved the star for the Rangers, taking five-wickets as Sydney crashed for 98 in the 42nd over.
Another with several stints in second grade under her belt, the tall right-armer finished the day with 5-23 from 6.3 overs of medium pace.
A confident Mayher Singh proved there were no demons in the pitch. In a 45-ball knock, the NSW Metro star hammered eight fours and two sixes to finish unbeaten on 53.
With the win Northern District remain in second place, while Sydney are still in the finals race in seventh spot.
WOODS ON FIRE
Cowra recruit Karly Woods has literally come out of the woodwork to spearhead Penrith to a comfortable 93-run win over Sydney University.
Under the pump after posting a seemingly gettable 144, Woods took the new ball for Penrith and the right-arm Western rep didn’t let anyone down in a breakthrough five-wicket performance.
Heading into the clash, despite several economical returns, Woods had taken just four wickets in six Brewer appearances this season. After picking up the first three wickets, she returned later to close out the innings with another two. In all, Woods finished with 5-16 off 9.3 overs.
Earlier in the day, Penrith’s top three of Simran Dhatt (23 off 61), Amelia Crouch (46 off 116) and Lucy Mellis (46 off 78) combined to put the Panthers on the road to victory. For Uni, captain Nadia Carvalho took 3-18.
MANLY TOO STRONG
Manly headed to Blacktown and capped off an eight-wicket win in a match that was done and dusted inside 62 overs.
Darcey Whiteley (3-12) had the best figures as Manly bowled Blacktown out for 64. Charlotte Croll (33* off 71) and Kaya Punter (24 off 55) top scored in reply as Manly moved to fourth on the ladder.
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