NSW Women’s Premier Cricket: U18s Brewer Shield round 15 wrap, team of the week

There’s a healthy mix of familiar faces and new names in this week’s list of top performers in the U18s Brewer Shield. Rep stars, power hitters and quality seamers, round 15 team of the week.

Tanishka Reddy announced herself in the final round of the Brewer Shield, removing the best of Northern District’s renowned top order on the way to a memorable return of 5-44.

The tall right-arm pacer wasn’t the only Blacktown star named in the round 15 team of the week. Keerti Vatul scored a well deserved half century while carrying her bat through the entirety of Blacktown’s reply.

With a couple of familiar faces, the Rangers struck back with several outstanding performances of their own.

NSW rep Mayher Singh delivered a typically strong all-round performance, while as per the video above, Makenzie Wheeler packed plenty of punch in ND’s middle order.

Round 15 wrap and team of the week.

BREWER SHIELD: ROUND 15 TEAM OF THE WEEK

1. Charlotte Croll, Manly Warringah (71 off 87 balls)
   
2. Keerti Vatul, Blacktown (50* off 107)
3. Caoimhe Bray, Greater Hunter (53 off 92)
4. Mayher Singh, Northern District (55 off 47, 3-13)
5. Lakshmi Rajadurai, Parramatta (48 off 86)
6. Stephanie O’Sullivan, St George Sutherland (31 off 55, 4-24)
7. Makenzie Wheeler, Northern District (46 off 32)
   
8. C A Tanishka Shardha Reddy, Blacktown (24 off 42, 5-44)
9. Sarah Bawcombe, Parramatta (4-29)
   
10. Claire Small, Campbelltown Camden (3-16)
11. Ruby Carter, Sydney University (3-35)

Caoimhe Bray’s rep experience was on show for Greater Hunter. Picture: Linda Higginson

ROUND 15 WRAP

After an exciting 15 rounds of the under-18s Brewer Shield we are now officially at the pointy end of the season.

Heading into the last round the makeup of the top six was still be be settled, while the minor premiership race was still wide open.

Once again the surprises continued, and the finalists were only decided following an epic finish in Sydney’s south.

Race to the finals - round 15 wrap.

SLAYERS HEARTACHE

The equation was simple enough for St George-Sutherland, beat Parramatta at Harold Fraser Reserve and head to next week’s finals. Anything less, and their hopes depended on Gordon upsetting Sydney.

Stephanie O’Sullivan (31 off 55) top scored as the home side posted a mediocre 148, seemily well short of what was needed to test a Parramatta side stacked with top order batting talent.

But in Brewer Shield nothing is ever straightforward, especially if Parra are giving chase.

In scenes remarkably similar to last week, Parramatta never looked headed in reply. At 4-126, the visitors needed just 23 off the final 36 balls.

Parramatta’s Lakshmi Rajadurai during January’s U16 National Champs in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson / Cricket Australia

NSW reps Neha Joshua (33 off 63) and Lakshmi Rajadurai (48 off 86) had done the bulk of the work to the point where a Parra victory seemed a formality.

But just like in round 14 against Hunter Coast, the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion.

Lucia Martin (1-23) trapped last week’s hero Amna Rahman plumb in front, and when O’Sullivan bowled Rajadurai, Parra still only required five from the final two overs with four wickets in hand.

O’Sullivan (4-24) continued the comebank, ripping out another three wickets in a spectacular 49th over.

But with one-run required off the final over, Kleo Hendry steadied and got Parra over the line, and in the process sent Slayers fans scrambling for results further afield.

SYDNEY SCRAPE THROUGH

For Sydney, the equation was far more complex. They had to give Gordon a good old fashioned touch up, big enough to lift a flagging net run rate to edge out St George Sutherland for sixth spot.

In the end they did it in a canter, powering past the Stags by a massive 121 runs.

Olivia Pelly (32 off 42) put Sydney on a winning path before a late cameo by Elizabeth Coughlin (27 off 19) left Gordon needing 193 for victory.

Sophia Wilson (1-8) and Tara McCall (1-9) did the damage with the new ball, and the wickets continued to fall until Gordon were all out for 71.

For Sydney, a finals berth caps a remarkable turnaround. Seemingly out of finals contention before the halfway point of the season, they’ve surged late scoring eight wins from their last nine outings.

HUNTER CRUISE TO FINALS

Greater Hunter tuned up for next week’s finals with a rousing 99-run win on the road over Campbelltown-Camden.

After electing to bat at Raby, Caoimhe Bray (53 off 92) led the way with a patient half century as Hunter posted 157 in a card that included six double-figure contributions.

Ghosts opening bowler Claire Small (3-16) continued her good form and finished the innings as the only multiple wicket taker.

With Aditi Shidore playing second grade, the Ghosts lacked stability at the top of the order and quickly folded in reply, bowled out for 58 in the 31st over.

For Hunter, Sophie McCrae (2-10) and Molly Dare (2-10) were both rewarded with two wickets each.

Greater Hunter’s Molly Dare in action for Newcastle at the Country Championships. Picture: Martin Ollman

RANGERS CLAIM MINOR TTLE

Northern District headed to Blacktown, and with their 11th victory finished the preliminary rounds at the top of the ladder and with the minor premiership.

With a lengthy list of contributors, ND’s batted first and posted 225 before bowling out the home side for 122.

Among six batters to post 19 runs or more, Mayher Singh (55 off 47) and Makenzie Wheeler (46 off 32) supercharged the run rate with blazing knocks that included a combined 15 fours and three sixes.

Not to be out done, Blacktown’s C A Tanishka Shardha Reddy snared five wickets. In a Brewer Shield best return, the right-arm medium pacer finished with 5-44 from nine overs in a superb spell that included three of the Rangers’ top order.

In reply, Keerti Vatul (50* off 107) carried her bat for Blacktown in an innings where Shree Swarup (3-16) and Singh (3-13) starred with the ball.

MANLY FLYING UNDER THE RADAR

A spirited 71 from Charlotte Croll has helped steer Manly out of trouble and past a gallant Sydney University at Mike Pawley Oval.

The 65-run victory wasn’t without hiccup but was enough to nail down fourth spot ahead of next weekend’s elimination finals.

Uni quicks Ruby Carter (3-35) and Nadia Carvalho (1-25) shut down Manly’s top order as the home side slumped to 4-66. Things didn’t get much better, and at one stage a score of 140-plus seemed out of reach until Charlotte Allen (27 off 59) and Tait Camburn (14* off 34) added 44 for the last wicket in a total of 10-197.

Skipper Nadia Carvalho (30 off 51) top scored as Uni were bowled out for 132 with just over two overs remaining.

With three wickets, leg spinner Kaya Punter (3-23) was Manly’s best with the ball.

BEARS LAND A PERFECT 10

It wasn’t the flashiest North Sydney performance but with a 55-run victory over the Southern Swans the Bears made it a perfect 10 from 10.

Unbeaten since October, Norths’ winning streak looked on shaky ground when the Swans made short work of the top order before rolling the Bears for just 117.

And at 8-82 it could have been far worse if not for a fighting top score of 22 not out by Mikaela Jenkins at No.9. Swans opening bowlers Ebony Winston (2-18) and Katie Martin (2-28) cashed in on a difficult Port Kembla pitch while Amelia Valdez (3-12) destroyed the middle order.

A couple of early wickets to Georgia MacDonald (2-11) lifted North Sydney, and as they piled on the pressure the wickets continued to fall until Varada Vinay (2-1) - who had earlier scored an important 20 at No.3 - rounded out the chase on 62, dismissing the final two batters in the 22nd over.

Jessica Robertson starred with the bat for Bankstown. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF

Wins have been few and far between for Bankstown this season, but with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Penrith, the girls finished the season in style with back-to-back victories.

In a contest that only lasted 48 overs, Lily Salter (2-18) and Jessica McMillan (2-11) both finished with doubles as the home side knocked over Penrith for 85.

In reply, Bankstown almost reached the target without loss as openers Jessica Robertson (42 off 51) and Ava Gaughan (28* off 47) put on 69 for the opening wicket.