NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 14 wrap, team of the week

The best of the under-18s Brewer Shield raised the bar with cracking performances in round 14. From centuries to outrageous efforts with the ball, we list the best. Wrap and TEAM OF THE WEEK.

While they might be out of the finals race Bankstown showed its fighting qualities with an impressive victory over the Southern Swans.

And with plenty of talent on the books, it was great to see Ava Gaughan lead the way at the top of the order with her best score of the Brewer season.

Equally, with plenty of second grade under her belt, Camryn Harland pitched in with bat and ball to inspire her Bankstown teammates.

At the other end of the ladder, Sharon Julien and Lucia Martin scored centuries as their sides tuned up for a shot at the title.

Then there’s Sam Kuncham. Never far from the action, last Sunday the Bears all-rounder scrambled tooth and nail to complete an extraordinary hat-trick.

Round 14 team of the week and full match summaries.

BREWER SHIELD: ROUND 14 TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Sharon Julien, UTS North Sydney (107 off 158 balls, 2-7)
2. Ava Gaughan, Bankstown (71 off 125, 1-8)
3. Lucia Martin, St George Sutherland (117 off 132)
4. Neha Joshua, Parramatta (69 off 102, 1-14)
5. Mayher Singh, Northern District (82 off 88, 1-14)
6. Aanya Siingh, Northern District (62 off 108, 1-20)
7. Lakshmi Rajadurai, Parramatta (55 off 116, 2-36)
8. Camryn Harland, Bankstown (40 off 46, 3-12)
9. Sam Kuncham, UTS North Sydney (24 off 37, 3-13)
10. Beth Millican, St George Sutherland (4-8)
11. Audrey Kirk, Gordon (4-34)

Camryn Harland showed her all-round class for Bankstown in R14. Picture: Contributed

ROUND 14 WRAP

As the race towards the top six intensified in the second last round of the U18s Brewer Shield, many of the competition’s top players delivered their best performances of the season.

From centuries to gripping final over encounters, round 14 had everything including a stunning hat-trick.

Round 14 wrap from all seven venues.

ANOTHER HUNTER HEART-STOPPER

What is it with Greater Hunter and heart-stoppers?

Seemingly well beaten as Parramatta cruised towards a target of 195, Hunter jammed the chase with a clutter of wickets, including two run outs in the final over, before Amna Rahman got Parra home with two runs off the final delivery.

Neha Joshua played an important innings for Parramatta. Picture: Parramatta DCC

In a preview to what promises to be a riveting finals series, both sides headed to Townson Oval pretty much at full strength.

Coming off last week’s five-wicket haul, medium pacer Sarah Bawcombe (1-26) tilted the contest Parramatta’s way when she forced a miss hit drive to remove the dangerous Caoimhe Bray for seven.

Felicity Wharton (58 off 126) and Sophie McCrae (41 off 36) steadied the innings as Hunter reached a competitive 9-194.

In reply, Bray (3-20) removed opener Vani Bhadana first ball before NSW reps Neha Joshua (69 off 102) and Lakshmi Rajadurai (55 off 116) put the visitors in command with a stand of 131.

In wild finale, Parramatta reached 3-182 and only need 13 off the last four overs. Hunter wrestled back the momentum and looked set to pull off another miracle until Rahman proved the hero, lofting McCrae down the ground for the winning runs.

Jorja Horan was best with the bat for Gordon. Picture: Beny Chun

RANGERS ON TARGET FOR MINOR PREMIERSHIP

Northern District maintained its place at the top of the table with an emphatic 92-run win over Gordon,

Aanya Siingh (62 off 108) and Mayher Singh (82 off 88) put on 130 for the fourth wicket in a Rangers total of 8/205, in an innings where Gordon’s Audrey Kirk finished with an impressive 4-34.

The Stags could only muster 113 in reply, a total that seemed unlikely until Jorja Horan showed her class with a typically powerful 61 off 70 balls that included 11 boundaries.

Phoebe Laws (2-4) and Emma Rippon (2-13) were the multiple wicket takers for Northern District.

Mayher Singh showed her class with the bat for Northern District. Picture: Linda Higginson / Cricket Australia

GOLDEN BEARS GO BIG

North Sydney made it nine straight with a comfortable victory over Sydney University, and in the process proved that whatever the Bears touch continually turns to gold.

Heading into the clash with a season best Brewer score of 25, opener Sharon Julien blew away the cobwebs and then the Uni attack with a breakthrough knock of 107 off 158 balls.

Batting through all but the last five deliveries of Norths’ 4-226, the right-hander struck six fours and cleared the rope twice in announcing herself as a player to watch in the big games ahead.

Sharon Julien scored a Brewer ton for UTS North Sydney. Photo: UTS North Sydney

Even though the wickets didn’t come her way, Uni’s Ruby Carter (1-23) showed why she’s one of the top opening bowlers in the competition with 10 accurate overs.

On a rare day where Sam Kuncham (24 off 37) was overshadowed with the bat, the all-rounder joined the headlines with a stunning hat-trick.

Split across two overs, the right-arm pacer struck gold with the second ball of the 11th over, diving forward in her follow-through to pouch the third victim as Uni slumped to 4-27.

They never recovered, eventually bowled out in the 35th over for 73.

With the win, Norths have jumped Great Hunter into second spot on the table.

GHOSTS GIVE MANLY A FRIGHT

Manly Warringah confirmed its spot in the top six after sweeping aside Campbelltown Camden by 70 runs.

But it looked anything but one-way traffic when the Ghosts had the visitors reeling at 4-49 after 20 overs.

Annabelle Croll (54 off 89) and Darcey Whiteley (36 off 69) were forced to dig Manly out of trouble, and that’s it exactly what they did. Their combined discipline saw the side post 9/189, with Claire Small the best of the bowlers with 3-24.

Aditi Shidore led the reply with 32, but with the top three back in the pavilion Campbelltown Camden folded and were bowled out in the 43rd over for 119.

MARTIN SLAYS TON

In a big weekend for NSW reps, none had a greater influence on the result than Lucia Martin who struck a match saving 117 in St George-Sutherland’s victory over Penrith.

Needing a win to remain inside the top six, the Slayers captain posted the only score above 30 in her 132-ball dig that took the side to 6/219 and relative safety.

Manorath Gill took 3-45 for the Panthers, but apart from a fighting Lucy Mellis (34 off 111), Penrith couldn’t get going in reply and finished their allotted 50 overs on 8-101.

Beth Millican kept the run rate in check for Slayers with a miserly 4-8 off 10 overs.

Lucia Martin scored a fine century for St George-Sutherland against Penrith in round 14. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

SYDNEY STILL IN THE HUNT

Sydney kept alive its slim finals hopes with a confidence boosting 51-run victory over Blacktown.

In seventh spot with one round to play, Sydney now need to defeat Gordon next week and count on favourable results elsewhere to extend their season.

On a difficult wicket for batting at Birchgrove Oval, Eliza McLeod and Maggie Delaney both reached 32 as Sydney were bowled out in the final over after scrambling to 159.

Kuhu Nanda (49 off 124) played a loan hand in Blacktown’s 108, while for Sydney, Holly Adlam (3-3) and Zahra de Wit (3-12) continued their good form with the ball.

MORALE-BOOSTING SCALP

Ava Gaughan struck a season best 71 to help Bankstown knock over the Southern Swans and register its fourth win of the season.

Opening the batting at Port Kembla, Gaughan received solid support from Camryn Harland (40 off 46) as the visitors reached 4/179.

Harland (2-9) returned with the new ball, striking twice to ensure the Swans remained behind the eight-ball from start to finish.