School Sport Australia U12 Cricket Champs, Adelaide: NSW girls go back-to-back

Adelaide got a taste of cricket’s future when a group of NSW schoolgirls swept aside all comers to be crowned national champions at the U12 School Sport Championships. FULL STORY

NSW, U12 national champs (L-R) Back: Belinda Allard (manager), Kyra Prajapati, Ella Finnane, Diva Patel, Mia Gilbert, Kate Owen (coach). Front: Michelle Pham, Jane Cruckshank, Kaya Kumar (c), Matilda Lett, Elodie Phillipson, Dristi Abhijith. Ground: Myra Guglani, Gayathri Naik. At West Beach Playing Fields, South Australia, December 6, 2024. Supplied: NSW PSSA

Inspired by their national heroes, NSW’s top primary school cricketers have wrapped up proceedings in Adelaide at the School Sport Australia U12 championships.

Since strapping on the pads on Sunday, December 1, the state’s best boys and girls have toiled through six matches in the race to be crowned national champions.

Here’s how they finished up after the final games on Friday.

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NSW GIRLS GO BACK-TO-BACK

They’re the latest crop of NSW schoolgirls to etch their names in history.

Perfect in all six contests, Kate Owen’s side of rising superstars raised the shield at West Beach on Friday shortly after downing Western Australia in their final match.

Fuelled by the unbeaten achievements of last season’s all conquering Blues in Darwin, the coach from South Coogee Public once again pulled the strings to maintain her perfect record at the helm.

Pitted against a heavyweight Queensland side in the opening round, NSW raised the bar when captain Kaya Kumar rocked the rest of the competition with a trademark century.

Kaya Kumar took her A game to Adelaide. Picture: Jason Hosken – NewsLocal

“Being undefeated is pretty amazing, the girls were on top of it from day dot and we couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of kids,” said Owen, while emphasising the value of returning teammates Kumar and Gayathri Naik.

“Kaya had such a great week, but that century was really pivotal because we knew Queensland and South Australia were quite strong this year too. So winning that game, and her scoring that hundred was a real highlight of the week.

“You can’t put a value on how beneficial Kumar and Gayathri were for the whole team. They both performed well and their experience proved invaluable.”

In a side known for its batting prowess, Marsfield’s Ella Finnane was content to clap the ball to all parts while seated in the dugout, but flicked the switch when handed the new rock.

Strengthened by a unique build up, the ruthless quick added spice to her opening spells.

“Ella actually flew in late on the night before our first game,” said Owen.

“She arrived from the Australian Athletics Championships where she picked up silver in the discus and shot put. Her opening bowling set the scene, and she got better throughout the week, just hitting the deck at good pace.”

Represented by members selected from far and wide, Dorrigo’s Mia Gilbert and Jane Cruckshank from Newcastle flew the regional flag with distinction.

“Mia bowled really well and scored crucial runs too, while Jane was our keeper and vice-captain,” explained Owen. “They’re both great country kids, just loving life and enjoying the experience.

“The country part of the program is vital. The squad was picked after the state carnival in Bathurst. The tournament is a great opportunity for kids to visit a different place, even for the Metro kids to go out and experience playing on turf.

“That’s something that NSW PSSA does really well. Playing on those wickets with great facilities really helped prepare the 12 girls for what they encountered in Adelaide.”

With successive titles locked away, Owen can’t get enough and already has one eye on the horizon.

“We actually had the same mantra as last year. Positivity, persistence and teamwork, and that is what they lived and breathed and it’s something we can continue next year in Ballarat.”

NSW BOYS FINISH ON HIGH

Following a winless first four rounds, the NSW boys finished on a high when they opened their account on the final day with a 65-run victory over the Northern Territory.

Rocked by successive narrow defeats in their first two outings, the boys struggled to rebound and build any meaningful momentum before wrapping up the seven-team competition in sixth place with one win.

In an amazing finish, the boys’ event finished in a three-way tie. With one loss each, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia couldn’t be separated with each squad member handed a winners medal at the final presentation.

For NSW, Kaito Mori was the standout. The St Felix Bankstown all-rounder kicked off the campaign with 58 against WA and added another two half centuries, while his lively left-arm pace proved difficult to get away.

Jack Palmer was one of nine in the squad from metropolitan Sydney, and the Gymea Bay youngster delivered on a promise to consistently land his left-arm off-spin. After backing WA into a corner with 3/22, he returned on Friday with more of the same to jam NT with 4/8.

Fellow spinner Tyson Jansz showed why he was selected for a second year. From St Catherine Siena, Prestons, the leg-spinner’s eight wickets were the most for NSW.

Of the country reps, Crookwell’s Henry Galland constantly finished among the wickets with his left-arm pace.