NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 13 wrap, team of the week
Most batters found the going tough last weekend as the bowlers held sway during an enthralling round of the women’s under-18s Brewer Shield. Round 13 stars, wrap and TEAM OF THE WEEK.
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It has been a tough season for Campbelltown Camden, but Aditi Shidore has been a shining light.
A pillar of strength at the top of the Ghosts order, in round 13 she notched her third fifty of the Brewer Shield season.
Yet to be dismissed for anything less than 12, the ultra-consistent opener now has 482 runs at 53.56, the most in the competition and 58 clear of Caoimhe Bray in second place.
On a weekend where ball dominated, Bray’s 3-6 against UTS North Sydney saw her pass St George-Sutherland’s Sophie Clark as the leading wicket-taker. Now on 22, the Greater Hunter all-rounder holds a one-wicket advantage.
Round 13 team of the week and full wrap of all matches.
BREWER SHIELD: ROUND 13 TEAM OF THE WEEK
- Aditi Shidore, Campbelltown Camden, (87 runs off 125 balls, 2-24)
- Amelia Crouch, Penrith, (56* off 150)
- Emma Rippon, Northern District, (62 off 114)
- Sam Kuncham, UTS North Sydney, (65 off 75, 3-25)
- Caoimhe Bray, Greater Hunter, (39 off 50, 3-6)
- Samantha Williams, UTS North Sydney, (38 off 54, 2-18)
- Karly Woods, Penrith, (25 off 23, 3-19)
- Zahra de Wit, Sydney, (25* off 52, 2-3)
- Olivia Linfoot, Gordon, (25* off 24, 3-22)
- Sarah Bawcombe, Parramatta, (5-6, 25* off 42)
- Varada Vinay, UTS North Sydney, (17 off 24, 4-38)
ROUND 13 WRAP
In the third last round before the finals, the fight for the minor premiership went into overdrive as three legitimate contenders stepped out to stake their claim. Once again there were numerous startling individual efforts among a host of surprising results as the majority of sides attempted to take another step towards the finals.
Round 13 wrap of all seven 50-over contests.
GORDON SIZZLE IN THE HEAT
Gordon headed to Grahame Thomas Oval where they overcame the heat and Bankstown, heading home with a second straight win after a resounding 10-wicket victory.
In oppressive conditions, Elizabeth Yates (3-12) took the new ball for the visitors and started the day with a maiden over. Olivia Linfoot (3-22) opened from the other end and immediately hit the home side with a blowtorch.
Linfoot’s start was the stuff of dreams. With her first two deliveries, the right-armer knocked over Milla Bruce and Ava Gaughan for golden ducks.
She then held onto a catch off Yates’ bowling, before picking up her third thanks to a classic catch by Victoria Marsh.
Without NSW rep Jessica Robertson, at 4-16, Bankstown could have easily rolled over. But in a wholehearted response, Lily Salter (20 off 31 balls) and Jessica McMillan (15* off 80) picked up the pieces before Bankstown were bowled out for 90 in 35 overs.
Just as they did last week, Marsh (12 off 91) and Diya Sambrane (42* off 82) bunkered down for Gordon and once again saw off the opening attack, before Marsh eventually surrendered to the heat, retiring after 26 overs.
Still 42 shy of the target, Linfoot (25* off 24) supercharged the innings with three boundaries as Gordon surged across the line in the 33rd over.
In a season of mixed fortunes, Gordon assistant coach Warren Yates said he was delighted with the team’s progress.
“Both Elizabeth and Olivia have been bowling tidy spells without getting the rewards in recent weeks,” said Yates.
“So it was good to see Olivia pick up three early, and then Elizabeth come back later and pick up another two.”
With a superb all-round performance, Gordon kept their slender finals hopes alive. But for Yates, there’s a much bigger picture.
“All the bowlers bowled tight lines and they were well supported in the field,” he said.
“Camryn Harland was probably Bankstown’s most dangerous batter, but she fell to an outstanding catch by Victoria.
“Coach Quincy Titterton has done an outstanding job. We have a young playing roster throughout the senior grades, so the club is really building towards next year - but there’s a fantastic vibe throughout the club.”
PARRA HIT BACK
Manly took on Parramatta at Old Kings Oval in a contest that shaped as a finals preview.
A week after Manly upset Parra in the under-16s Green Shield grand final, the girls turned the tables in spectacular style, downing the visitors by six wickets to put their title quest back on track.
Coming off last week’s disappointing loss to UTS North Sydney, Parramatta made Manly regret their decision to bat from the outset.
A fired up Kleo Hendry caught the dangerous Charlotte Croll short of her ground without scoring in the fifth over before Amna Rahman (1-15) struck in the next over, trapping Daisy Addison LBW to make it 2-8.
With a perfect platform, Sarah Bawcombe went to town. In just over six overs, the first change bowler struck gold, dismantling the bulk of Manly’s lineup with 5-6.
Manly were bowled out for 80, but at 7-24 an ultra embarrassing rout was avoided after defiant knocks from Darcey Whiteley (34 off 55) and Saoirse Ford (22 off 46).
In reply, Bawcombe’s dominance continued with the bat. Coming in at 2-32, she top scored with an unbeaten 25 off 43 balls.
In another win for Parramatta, NSW under-16s all-rounder Neha Joshua took another step in her recovery from a knee injury. Bowling in Brewers for the first time since late October, the quick took 1-2 from three overs.
THRILL OF THE CHASE
Sydney and Penrith have both successfully chased down targets to remain in finals contention.
At Raby, Aditi Shidore (87 off 125) did everything but reach triple figures as Campbelltown Camden posted 6-168 against Sydney.
Jessica Bramble (29 off 68) offered solid support before Sydney slumped to 7-116 in reply.
Isobel Glen (24 off 50) and Ella Wade (22 off 45) put on 57 for the first wicket before Shidore (2-24) made the all important breakthrough with her leg-spin.
The wickets continued to tumble, and if not for Zahra de Wit the Ghosts would have got the chocolates.
While overs were never a problem, de Wit (25* off 52) at No.8 slowed the flow of wickets with a measured knock in the two-wicket win.
With the victory, seventh placed Sydney now sit five points behind St George-Sutherland.
It was a similar story at Cook Park where Penrith hosted the Southern Swans in a vital clash for both sides.
On a difficult wicket the Swans posted 7-143 from 50 overs in a innings where Amelia Valdez (43 off 94) and Katie Martin (30 off 72) put on 67 for the first wicket.
Coming of last week’s five-wicket haul, Penrith’s Karly Woods doubled down with another fine performance. In 10 overs the quick picked up 3-19.
Amelia Crouch was a rock in reply, the opener saw Penrith across the line by three wickets with just 13 balls to spare.
In an unbeaten innings of 56, Crouch faced a staggering 150 deliveries to help her side to ninth on the ladder, just three points behind the Swans.
BEARS FLEX MUSCLES
In the clash of the titans at Tunks Park, North Sydney have ended Geater Hunter Coast’s run at the top of the ladder with a 30-run victory.
Now unbeaten in their last eight starts, the second-placed Bears have leapfrogged the Hunter girls, who now sit in third place.
In a contest sprinkled with elite talent, Greater Hunter all-rounder and under-16s NSW Country rep, Caoimhe Bray, dismissed Norths captain and NSW Metro gun Aurora Mavros without scoring.
But that was after Sharon Julien (25 off 37) and Sam Kuncham (65 off 75) put the Bears on a path to victory with an opening stand of 90.
Samantha Williams (38 off 54) was second best as Norths struck a competitive 210. Bray stood out for Hunter, taking 3-6 off 8.5 overs, while Xanthe Hewitt (3-22) also finished with three.
Led by Layla Graham (49 off 68), Greater Hunter threatened at times in reply, but without any of the top order going on with the job, they were unable to build a match winning partnership.
Bray (39 off 50) and Zara Dennis (35 off 51) combined for 12 boundaries, while for Norths, Varada Vinay took 4-38 as Kuncham capped off another fine afternoon with 3-25.
NORTHERN DISTRICT TOP THE CHARTS
With a 135-run win over Sydney University at Storey Park, Northern District have regained top spot on the ladder.
In what shapes as a three-way battle for the minor premiership, the Rangers are just six points clear of the third ranked Greater Hunter Coast.
After being sent in, ND’s posted 9-212 with opener Emma Rippon leading the way with 62 off 114 balls. Among three double-wicket takers, Lucinda Butler (2-13) finished with the pick of the figures.
Nadia Carvalho (25 off 75) top scored in reply as Uni were bowled out in the 46th over for 77. Rippon rounded out a fine day with 2-1 off five overs.
In a low scoring match at Sutherland Oval, the locals were given a real fright by Blacktown before hanging on for a much needed 20-run win.
Needing a victory to hold onto sixth spot, St George-Sutherland lost both openers without scoring before Lucia Martin (27 off 36) and Stephanie O’Sullivan (29 off 48) combined to rescue the innings before they were eventually bowled out for 131.
In a fine team effort with the ball, Blacktown had seven bowlers take a single wicket before Kuhu Nanda cleaned up the tail with 3-4.
An upset loomed when Blacktown reached 5-94 in the chase, but it wasn’t to be, as the Slayers hit back removing the final five wickets for 16 runs.
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