Under-19 Women’s National Cricket Championships: NSW Metro wins back-to-back titles
NSW Metro has claimed back-to-back titles and secured a rare carnival double after an emphatic victory in the under-19 women’s National Cricket Championships.
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NSW Metro has claimed back-to-back titles and secured a rare double in what has been a golden summer so far after taking out the under-19 women’s National Cricket Championships in Brisbane.
An excellent half-century to Elsa Hunter and a wonderful team bowling effort saw the side defeat home team Queensland by 88 runs via DLS method in a rain-shortened final at Allan Border Field.
The victory backs up last year’s undefeated campaign in Perth, and comes just two weeks after Metro’s under-19 men’s side also claimed the national title, once again after beating Queensland in a rain-affected final.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the NSW side got off to a steady start, with openers Kate Pelle and Lauren Kua scoring at just under four an over as they managed to see off the new ball.
However the introduction of spin into the attack got the breakthrough, with Kua caught at mid-on for 17 with off-spinner Lilli Hamilton’s second ball to leave the side at 1-28 in the eighth over.
The wicket sparked Pelle – who left Brisbane mid-carnival to make her domestic one day debut for the NSW Breakers before returning for the finals – into action. The opener was playing some nice shots and starting to find the gaps until she edged one onto her leg and was caught behind for 29.
From here, Hunter and Frankie Nicklin continued to pick up the pace as they took the total beyond 120.
And while Nicklin fell for 26 from 25 balls, Hunter was joined at the crease by Eva Ragg, who kept the tempo going by continuing to score freely.
The pair put on 60 in good time and looked as though they were setting in for a big total when Ragg skewed a Hamilton off-break to point to be dismissed by a well-made 39 from 40 balls.
The wicket triggered somewhat of a middle order collapse, with Ella Briscoe (9), Hunter – who was excellent in her 69 – and Lucy Finn (8) all falling in quick succession to leave the side at 7-220 in the 43rd over.
While on track at various stages for a score around 275, Metro was suddenly looking vulnerable, with only some excellent late order hitting Olivia Maxwell (28* from 31 balls), lifting the team to 8-258 from its 50 overs.
Queensland off-spinner Hamilton was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-47 from her 10 overs.
Coming out after the break, the home side got off to a really strong start with the bat as Tarah Staines and Taylor Stumer moved the team along to 0-36 from six overs.
Then, in almost a carbon copy of the Metro innings, the introduction of spin got the breakthrough as Stumer was caught at mid-on after failing to get ahold of a cross-bat shot from the third ball of off-spinner Nicklin’s spell.
The wicket was effective in slowing down the run rate and shortly after danger woman Staines was sent back to the pavilion for 27 after being bowled by leg-spinner Juliette Morton with just her second delivery.
With Lucy Hamilton in good touch, Queensland moved along to be 2-71 after 15 overs as the match remained in the balance.
This was until Metro medium pacer Zoe Murdoch got one to stick on the pitch and Sianna Ginger chipped the ball to Kua for an easy catch at cover.
Just as the contest was heating up, things in Brisbane were cooling down, with rain forcing the players off the field for about an hour with Queensland on 3-93 from 20.4 overs.
And while the match was evenly poised before the break, it was one-way traffic after it as Metro bowler Lucy Wilson trapped Queensland’s Naiya Varidel on the pads with just the fifth ball after the break as the home side went four down.
It was soon five as Queensland were finding it difficult under lights, and when Hamilton holed out in the deep for Wilson’s third wicket, the home side was in trouble at 6-118 in the 24th over.
In the desperation for runs, Darcy Johnson was run out by Morton, while Felicity Koch became Nicklin’s second victim as Queensland was well behind on 8-139 when rain stopped play again for good in the 30th over.
NSW Metro 8-258 (Hunter 69, Ragg 39; Lilli Hamilton 3-47, Berry 2-50) defeated Queensland 8-139 (Lucy Hamilton 39, Staines 27; Wilson 3-33, Nicklin 2-32) by 88 runs via DLS method
SEMI-FINAL WRAP
All roads lead to Allan Border Field on Thursday where NSW Metro will defend its under-19 Women’s National Cricket Championships title in the grand final against tournament hosts Queensland.
In a low scoring semi-final at Peter Burge Oval, Metro overcame an early batting collapse to eventually overpower NSW Country by 71 runs.
In another contest dominated by spin, Metro’s Frankie Nicklin grabbed a 5-fa to increase her tally to a competition high 17 wickets.
Country’s Sienna Eve wasn’t far behind, the left-armer taking 3-23 in a match where Metro’s Olivia Maxwell top scored with 22.
Despite the loss, an inexperienced Country have had a great week and will return to the field tomorrow against Victoria Country in a battle for third spot.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
SYDNEY METRO FORCED TO DIG DEEP
NSW Metro proved on Wednesday there’s no denying the old adage that runs on the board win finals.
Although there would have been doubts after an upbeat Country rolled them for just 137 in 48 overs.
After winning the toss, Metro took to the wicket and the tension immediately surfaced when Callee Black sprayed three wides in the opening over.
At the opposite end, Tara French hooped them past the outside edge before Black struck the first blow with the score on 21.
The tall left-armer got one to hold in the wicket long enough to balloon off Zoe Murdoch’s leading edge.
It proved the turning point of the game.
With the ball gripping, the spinners led by Sienna Eve (3-23) once again went to work, and they removed six of Metro’s top seven batters.
Given her week north of the border, there’d be no surprises if Eve decided to set up camp in the Sunshine State.
The left-armer had Eva Ragg (9) forcing to square-leg, and shortly after Metro were 3-50 when Frankie Nicklin (7) spooned one to mid-off.
Eliza Henry (2-19) then joined the party. First, the Manly offie trapped Ella Briscoe plumb in front, then with her eighth delivery, the right-armer removed last start century-maker Elsa Hunter for 19.
At 5-58, squad newcomer Olivia Maxwell (22 off 41) teamed with Lucy Finn (19 off 55) to add 29 crucial runs for the sixth wicket.
Olivia Callaghan (1-18) proved the partnership breaker before medium pacers Kate McTaggart (1-9), Delaney Laffy (1-8) and Black (2-19) cleaned up the tail leaving Country needing 138 to win a place in Thursday’s decider.
Burned by the lessons of a sticky wicket, Metro wasted no time calling upon their own lethal weapon.
And Nicklin did the rest.
In the second over of Country’s reply, the off-spinner had Ava Ryan caught behind by her opposite Hayley Zauch. Then after pace-ace Alex Mavros held onto a return catch, it was 3-8 when Nicklin trapped a disappointed Callaghan in front of the stumps in the fourth over.
Determined not to roll over, Country bunkered down and added 26 in the next 15 overs until McTaggart (12 off 60) tickled a Zoe Murdoch lifter through to the keeper.
It proved the beginning of the end for Country. With a good head of steam the Parramatta speedster rocked back Emily Powell’s off stump before gifting Zauch her third catch, off the bat of Caoimhe Bray.
At 7-58 and with a grand final spot all but confirmed, all eyes focused on Nicklin. The off-spinner made short work of the lower order and with the final ball of her allotted overs, the Sydney Uni whiz needed one more wicket to secure a memorable five-wicket haul.
And with a desperate lunge forward she did it, intercepting a Henry bunt to finish with a remarkable 5-15 from 10 overs.
Follow the grand final live. SCORES and VIDEO
Results
NSW Metro 10-137 (Maxwell 22, Hunter 19, Finn 19; Eve 3-23, Black 2-19, Henry 2-19) defeated NSW Country 10-66 (Black 21, McTaggart 12; Nicklin 5-15, Murdoch 3-11, Mavros 1-13) by 71 runs
DAY FOUR WRAP
NSW Metro and NSW Country will meet in the under-19 Women’s National Cricket Championships semi-finals after a day of contrasting fortunes in Brisbane. In the final regular round match, the Sydney side showed they will be the team to beat after Elsa Hunter inspired her team with a century as they easily accounted for the PNG under-23 team. It was a different story for Country, who struggled with both the bat and ball in its clash with Victoria Metro. With Metro having finished first and Country third after the regular rounds, the two sides will now meet for a place in the final. Catch up with the action below.
METRO TOP THE TABLE
It will be an all NSW semi-final after Metro tuned-up its title tilt with a thumping 219-run win over the PNG under-23 team.
Led by an even 100 to opener Elsa Hunter, the city girls were never headed in posting 10-296 against the last placed PNG side.
With their fifth win of the tournament, Metro finished the preliminary rounds at the top of the table leaving them perfectly placed to replicate the deeds of last season’s championship winning combination.
After electing to bat, Metro quickly slumped to 2-2 before Frankie Nicklin (45) joined Hunter in a partnership of 79. With the innings back on track, among her eight boundaries, Hunter continued to manipulate the field before the lower order brought the fireworks.
Lauren Kua sparkled with 28 off 18 balls before the St George-Sutherland duo of Ella Briscoe and Lucy Finn went to town in the closing stages.
Briscoe was first to clear the fence in her 29-run cameo, only to be outdone by the towering Finn, who launched two massive strikes in racing to 28 off 20 balls.
In reply PNG were bowled out inside 32 overs for 77. Juliette Morton continued her solid campaign picking up 4-6, while fellow spinners Hunter (2-5) and Sara Chun (2-11) chipped in with doubles.
The glaring issue for Metro was laid bare in the extras column. With only 34 runs off the bat, the PNG total was topped up by 43 extras with 31 coming from wides.
With runs likely to be at a premium in the finals, it’s an issue coach Sarah Aley will look to rectify.
NSW Metro 10-296,49.3 overs (Hunter 100, Nicklin 45; Thomas 3-63, Vagi 2-48) defeated PNG under-23s 10-77, 31.3 overs (Rajadurai 7; Morton 4-6, Hunter 2-5, Chun 2-11) by 219 runs
COUNTRY SNEAK INTO FINALS
NSW Country has set up a semi-final clash with interstate rivals NSW Metro despite going down in a disappointing eight-wicket loss to Victoria Metro in the final regular round of the tournament.
While a win would have secured the team’s spot in the tournament’s top four, the side struggled with both the bat and ball, being bowled out for 110 and then failing to seriously trouble the opposition batters during their chase.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, it was a difficult start for the NSW side, who found scoring difficult amid accurate Victorian bowling and energetic fielding.
It didn’t take long for the pressure to show, with openers Kinjal Kumari (10) and Ava Ryan (7) dismissed early.
Fresh from a last-start 63, skipper Kate McTaggart sought to stabilise the innings as wickets kept falling around her, but when she was caught pulling for 19 the side had slumped to 5-69 from 22 overs.
Callee Black showed plenty of intent in the middle order with some early boundaries.
However wickets kept falling at the other end, and when she was caught at mid-off for 18 trying to lift the rate, it in effect spelled the end of Country’s resistance with the bat.
The team was on 9-110 when the innings came to an end after 34 overs, with Eliza Henry not coming out to bat.
It could well have been a lot worse for Country, who were helped by the fact that Vic Metro bowled a whopping 30 wides.
In reply, the Victorians made light work of the total, scoring six from the first over and moving to 0-19 after four as scoring appeared to be far easier.
Olivia Callaghan got the breakthrough by dismissing Mia Perrin for 18, however opener Isobel White was joined by Samara Dulvin at the crease and the pair continued to chew through the target without too much trouble.
And while White edged one through to wicketkeeper Ava Ryan from Delaney Laffy’s bowling with just three to go in the chase, that was just a consolation as Vic Metro went on to win the game by eight wickets with a whopping 20 overs to spare.
The loss, Country’s second from six games, left the team temporarily sweating on other results to determine whether it would finish the regular rounds in the top four and subsequently remain in the hunt for the title.
Fortunately for the side results went their way, with the team finishing third after the six games.
NSW Country 9-110 (McTaggart 19, Black 18; Dulvin 3-12, White 2-14) lost to Victoria Metro 2-114 (Dulvin 40*, White 39; Laffy 1-16, Callaghan 1-19) by eight wickets
DAY THREE WRAP
Both NSW Metro and Country will go into the final regular round of the women’s under-19 National Championship in a tie for the lead after recording strong wins during round five in Brisbane.
In a day when all teams played their first 50-over match, Lucy Finn saved the day for Metro with some incredible lower order hitting, before a clinical display with the ball and in the field gave the side a huge win over the previously undefeated Queensland.
Meanwhile, Samira Mitchell and Kate McTaggart were in fine touch as Country finally clicked with the bat to record an impressive victory over Western Australia.
Catch up with a wrap of the play below.
FINN TO THE RESCUE FOR METRO
An incredible display of lower-order hitting from Lucy Finn has rescued NSW Metro from a dire situation, before an excellent team effort in the field helped the side to a comfortable win over Queensland.
Taking on the previously undefeated home side, Metro found itself in trouble at 6-127 in the 32nd over when Finn came to the crease. It got even worse just shortly after, with the side reduced to 8-137 as Ella Briscoe and Alexandra Mavros were dismissed cheaply.
However Finn turned the match on its head in an incredible performance, smashing an unbeaten 73 from 53 balls as the side put on 92 in the final 10 overs and an incredible 60 in the last five to turn the match on its head.
The 16-year-old, who hit six fours and four sixes, gave the team plenty of momentum at the change of innings, hitting three consecutive fours and a six in the final over to take Metro to 9-246 at the end of its 50 overs.
It was a solid total for Metro, who found itself in trouble with the bat at 3-47 early in its innings.
And while Elsa Hunter (28), Eva Ragg (31) and Kate Pelle (28) all got starts to get things back on track, another collapse left the team in grave danger until Finn took control of the innings.
Her knock of 73 proved to be crucial, as a strong effort in the field saw the NSW side bowl the Queenslanders out for 165 to win by 81 runs.
Spinner Frankie Nicklin continued her excellent tournament with the ball by taking 2-25. Lucy Wilson also took two wickets while Juliette Morton, Ragg and Finn all took one.
Perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects of Metro’s performance was its fielding, with the team running out three of the Queensland top five to ensure the home side was never going to get close to the total.
It was Metro’s fourth win from five games, and puts the team equal first ahead of its final regular round match against PNG under-23s on Monday.
NSW Metro 9-246 (Finn 73*, Ragg 31; Hamilton 5-25, Berry 1-17) defeated Queensland 10-165 (Ginger 30, Hamilton 27; Wilson 2-23, Nicklin 2-25) by 81 runs
COUNTRY CLICKS INTO GEAR
NSW Country’s top order finally clicked into gear while bowler Tara French ripped through the opposition batting line-up as the team defeated Western Australia to go equal top of the standings after round five.
A blistering run-a-ball half century from opener Samira Mitchell and an excellent knock from skipper Kate McTaggart laid the platform for the side before French did the business with the ball to help Country to an impressive 36-run win.
Despite winning three of its four T20 matches coming into the game, the team had struggled somewhat with the bat throughout the tournament, top scoring with just 90 in its round three loss to Victoria Country.
And while Kinjal Kumari was dismissed for eight, fellow opener Mitchell dominated the WA attack to get her team off to a bright start.
The cricketer from Taree hit seven fours and one six in a run-a-ball 58, leaving the side well positioned at 2-103 when she was dismissed in the 22nd over.
Fortunately for Country, skipper McTaggart took over with a real captain’s knock, combining well with new batter Olivia Callaghan to keep the scoreboard ticking along.
The pair put on 65 before Callaghan was given out LBW for 22, with the wicket sparking a collapse that saw the side lose three for two.
McTaggart kept finding the gaps until she was stumped for a well-made 63, with Country then losing its last five with wickets for just 22 as it was bowled out for 213 in the final over.
And while disappointed to collapse at the end, the display was far and away the side’s best batting performance for the carnival.
With WA itself boasting a strong batting line-up, Country was on the lookout for early wickets and that’s exactly what the team got, with left-arm opening bowler Callee Black dismissing opener Ines McKeon for just two.
From here it was the Tara French show, with the Central Coast representative knocking over top-order batters Ella Dodgson, Morgan Pires and Tené Crafford to leave WA reeling at 4-28.
WA captain Rebecca McGrath and Shayna Jesani got the chase back on track by putting on 53 for the fifth wicket until a moment of brilliance secured a breakthrough.
With the West Australians looking for a quick single, energetic work in the field from Keisha Baldwin and tidy hands from keeper Ava Ryan caught ran Jesani out for 22.
It was one of three big plays from Baldwin, who helped once again tip the game in Country’s favour just as WA was staging a fightback.
The Greater Illawarra rep star secured her second run out for the game with an excellent direct hit to dismiss danger batter McGrath for 45 as WA was building momentum.
Then, with WA within 50 of the total, she trapped Matilda Richings on the pads for 25 to reduce the side to 8-165.
It marked the end of the resistance for WA, who were bowled out for 177, handed Country a 36-run win and giving the side a great chance to qualify for the semi-finals.
NSW Country 10-213 (McTaggart 63, Mitchell 58; Pires 2-33, McGrath 2-41) defeated Western Australia 10-177 (McGrath 45, Richings 25; French 4-23, Callaghan 2-43) by 36 runs
DAY TWO WRAP
With each side backing up for another two matches, the T20 feast continued on day two of the under-19 Women’s National Cricket Championships in Brisbane.
But once again, the quicks were largely brushed aside as the spinners dined out on a day where both NSW teams consolidated their finals chances before the final two rounds of 50-over competition.
Afternoon rains didn’t halt Metro and Country’s charge as both sides finished the second day on three wins from four starts.
With nine wickets at 5.56, Metro all-rounder Frankie Nicklin is a surprise leader at the top of the bowling charts. However, the off-spinner is in good company alongside Country left-arm orthodox bowler Sienna Eve, who has seven at crazy 3.85.
Here’s how the day unfolded.
NSW METRO BOUNCE BACK TO FORM
NSW Metro were quick to wipe away their tears from the opening day, easily accounting for South Australia in the first of Friday’s two T20 games.
Once again spin did the trick, as Juliette Morton (3-21) and Frankie Nicklin (2-15) combined for five wickets as the Redbacks crumbled for just 98 runs inside 19 overs.
In response, Metro also struggled against the turn as leg-spinner Sanigdha Bansal (3-8) picked up three wickets before Manly’s Lauren Kua and day-one hero, Eva Ragg, steadied the ship to round out a much needed four-wicket victory.
Alex Mavros set the scene in the third over of the day, rocking back Maddie Fielke’s off stump with 11 runs on the board.
And while spin from both sides dominated the day, it was Lucy Wilson’s spell of 3-26 that opened the door for Metro’s second win of the competition.
In the space of three overs, the Parramatta quick removed Elizabeth Worthley and Matilda Maitland in consecutive deliveries, and when Chloe Rosenzweig played on in the ninth over, the South Aussies were 5-42.
Moreton and Nicklin then returned to inflict more pain, before Sara Chun (1-12) picked up the final wicket.
With the bat, openers Kate Pelle (27 off 29) and Ella Briscoe (25 off 28) forced the pace from the outset until Briscoe was bowled attempting to slog-sweep with the score on 61.
And with no further addition to the score, another Metro fade out loomed as Pelle and Elsa Hunter both trudged back to the pavilion.
Franklin became Bansal’s third victim 26 shy of the target, but with five boundaries, Kua quickly wrapped up the chase.
And the good news kept coming in the afternoon when Metro proved too strong for Victoria Country in a rain interrupted clash at Wavell Heights.
Set a target of 115, Ragg (22 off 20) replaced Pelle at the top of the order, and alongside Briscoe (21 off 21) the pair blasted 45 to put the contest beyond doubt inside the first six overs.
Both departed in quick succession, but Hunter (9* off 16) and Nicklin (13* off 11) added another 19 in quick time before the heavens opened up in the 12th over with the score on 2-68.
With play abandoned and Metro ahead on DLS, the Blues had capped off their third win of the tournament.
Results
South Australia 10-98, 18.4 overs (Melegh 19; Morton 3-21, Wilson 3-26, Nicklin 2-15) lost to NSW Metro 4-100, 15.3 overs (Kua 30*, Pelle 27, Briscoe 25; Bansal 3-8) by six wickets
Victoria Country 5-114, 20overs (McLennan 32, Gill 28; Mavros 2-36, Nicklin 1-8, Murdoch 1-17) lost to NSW Metro 2-68, 11.2 overs (Ragg 22, Briscoe 21; Syan 1-7, Gill 1-11) by DLS
COUNTRY’S FINALS DREAMS ON TRACK
Coming of a faultless opening day, NSW Country strolled into an old fashioned ambush on Friday morning, stumbling to fellow bushies Vic Country by 30 runs at Ian Healy Oval.
After restricting the Victorian’s to 120, the NSW girls were hamstrung in reply with Samira Mitchell (14 off 13) and Olivia Callaghan (20 off 31) posting the only double figure scores in a disappointing chase that finished on 90 runs with an over to spare.
Vic Country’s Hasrat Gill was the player of the match, with the left-hander’s game-high 42 proving the difference.
Early on, Sienna Eve (2-5) extended her sensational form adding another two wickets to the five she snared on the opening day.
Once again the left-arm offie sucked the life out of the innings with the new-ball, taking 1-4 from three overs, and it was her delivery to dismiss Gill that was one of the talking points of the day.
With the Vics on 4-92, Gill played and missed outside the off stump, before inexplicably setting off for a single, only to turn around and see Ava Ryan whip off the bails.
It gifted the Blues an opportunity, but it was quickly shut down by Charli McLennan (12*) and Indigo Noble (16*) who added 28 crucial runs off the final five overs.
With 20 whittled off the chase inside the first three overs, NSW Country appeared on course for a third consecutive victory.
But when Mitchell was cut in half by Poppy Gardner’s left-arm pace, the wickets continued to tumble.
First, Kate McTaggart was bowled through the gate without scoring, then with the rate ballooning others followed while attempting to force the pace.
In all there were three stumpings, including two in Ribhya Syan’s 4-22.
Any tears the loss created were washed away in the afternoon when the Country girls managed to squeeze past South Australia by DLS.
Three wicket hauls to both McTaggart (3-12) and Keisha Baldwin (3-10) restricted the South Aussies to 9-93 off 20 overs, before Country again stumbled in reply.
Despite matching the required rate, wickets continued to fall, and when Callee Black was run out Country had slumped to 4-37 in a contest that all of a sudden was evenly poised.
Play was eventually called off, but at 4-45, Country had done enough to secure an all important third win from four outings.
Results
Vic Country 5-120,20 overs (Gill 42; Eve 2-5, McTaggart 1-13, Baldwin 1-19, Humphreys 1-21) defeated NSW Country 10-90, 19 overs (Callaghan 20, Mitchell 14; Syan 4-22, Gill 2-12) by 30 runs
South Australia 9-93,20 overs (Maitland 21; Baldwin 3-10, McTaggart 3-12, Bray 1-11) lost to NSW Country 4-45, 9 overs (McTaggart 15, Ryan 11*, Filsell 1-7) by DLS
DAY ONE WRAP
6-2. 4-7. 5-4. They’re not the type of scores one automatically associates with cricket, but that is exactly what went down during a quite remarkable opening day of the under-19 women’s National Cricket Championships in Brisbane.
There were batting collapses, devastating power hitting, some quite brilliant bowling and a final-ball thriller that needs to be seen to be believed as both NSW Metro and Country kicked off a thrilling start to the tournament.
The spinners from both NSW sides put their name up in lights as all teams played two T20 matches as they opened their accounts at the carnival.
Catch up with a truly remarkable day one below.
METRO GO FROM EXPLOSION TO IMPLOSION
NSW Metro has played some sparkling cricket before suffering a dramatic implosion in what was a topsy-turvy day for the team in Brisbane.
For much of the day Metro showed just how good of a batting team it can be with two accomplished performances against the ACT and Western Australia, only to fall agonisingly short in a final-ball thriller against the West Australians late in the day.
From devastating batting to five-wicket overs and a tail end miracle, the match had it all, with the final two overs arguably among the most dramatic ever seen in cricket.
At 4-110 with two overs remaining, Western Australia was well in with a shout of chasing down Metro’s total of 126, requiring 17 from 12 balls, when disaster struck.
Facing off-spinner Frankie Nicklin, WA opener Ines McKeon was caught on the pads and given out LBW for an excellent knock of 52 from 53 balls.
This was compounded the very next ball when a terrible mix-up running between the wickets saw Chloe Bartholomew run out for two.
In comical scenes, Olivia McSweeney was clean bowled for a golden duck to cap off the team hat-trick for Metro, leaving WA at 7-110 and needing 17 from nine balls.
New batter Tegan Williamson finally broke the chain, slog-sweeping her first ball to the boundary for four. It didn’t last long though, with some sharp work from wicketkeeper Hayley Zauch running out Ella Dodgson to make it four wickets in five balls.
Then, defying belief, WA batter Shay Manolini was caught at mid-on with the final ball of the over to ensure that the team had lost a remarkable five wickets from six deliveries.
This left the West Australians at 9-114, needing what appeared to be an unlikely 13 from left-arm orthodox spinner Sara Chun’s final over to win.
With number nine Williamson and number 11 Natasha Kelsey at the crease, the pair remarkably went 4, 0, 1, 6, 1 to tie things up at 126 with one ball remaining.
With tension running high, the final delivery came in as a waist-high full toss, which Williamson dispatched to the mid-wicket boundary to secure a one wicket-win and trigger wild celebrations from her teammates.
The loss would have been a difficult one to swallow for Metro, who batted well for much of the innings to set a competitive total.
Despite the team losing an early wicket, opener Eva Ragg went to town on the WA bowlers, clubbing nine boundaries as she top scored with 63 from just 47 balls.
Destined for a much higher score, Metro was restricted to just nine runs from the last three and a half overs on the back of some tight late-over bowling as the team finished on 6-126.
In response, WA got off to a bright start with McKeon and fellow opener Morgan Pires, however an almighty collapse saw the team lose 6-13 late in the innings, with only some pinch-hitting heroics from the tail end getting the team over the line in a game for the ages.
The loss soured what has been up until that point a good day for the defending champs.
Kicking off its title defence against the Canberra-based team in the morning match at Ian Healy Oval, Metro got off to a flyer, with opening batter Kate Pelle belting two sixes and two fours in the first few overs as she scored a quickfire 28 from 21 balls.
Her dismissal brought Elsa Hunter and Ella Briscoe together. The pair picked up where Pelle left off, maintaining a healthy run rate to push the team to 1-76 from 10 overs.
Hunter hit the boundary rope six times while Briscoe smashed five fours and a six as they both scored at around a run a ball.
Their partnership moved onto 87 before Hunter was eventually dismissed for an excellent 41 from 44 balls to leave the team at 2-128 with 2.5 overs remaining.
In the quest for quick runs the team a couple of late wickets, with Briscoe top scoring with 46 from 44 as the team finished its 20 overs on 4-142.
In reply, ACT got off to just about the best possible start with Alana Horsfall slashing the first ball of the innings through point for four.
The team raced to 32 from the first four overs until a change to spin once again proved lethal, with off-spinner Nicklin trapping Horshall on the pads to claim a wicket with her first ball.
Three balls later they were two down after Sara Chun ran out Rachel Carroll for one.
Chun, the left-arm orthodox spinner, then caused more havoc after being given the ball in the next over, dismissing opener Paris Bowdler for 12 and Stella Wilde for a duck to make it four wickets in two overs.
Then when Nicklin claimed her second in the ninth over, ACT had slumped to 5-36, having lost a 5-4 in four a half overs.
It was an expert bowling performance from the pair, with Nicklin finishing with the brilliant figures of 2-4 from four overs and Chun 2-1 from two.
ACT’s Amber Smith (30 not out) and Brieanna Dillon then steadied the ship by putting on 40 until the latter was caught for 15. And while Amy Hunter finished unbeaten with Smith on 13, the ACT never looked like coming close to the Metro total, finishing its 20 overs on 6-106.
Results
NSW Metro 4-142 (Briscoe 46, E Hunter 41; A Hunter 2-23, Field 1-26) defeated ACT 6-106 (Smith 30*, Dillon 15; Chun 2-1, Nicklin 2-4) by 36 runs
NSW Metro 6-126 (Ragg 63, Briscoe 19; Pires 2-17, Manolini 2-19) lost to Western Australia 9-130 (McKeon 52, Pires 15; Nicklin 4-23, Wilson 2-11) by one wicket
ROLLERCOASTER COUNTRY PUT ON BOWLING MASTERCLASS
NSW Country’s bowlers stepped up to the plate with some quite brilliant performances in a day where the ball well and truly dominated for the side.
Remarkably, the team conceded just 85 runs across its two T20 games as the team’s spinners ran riot to help record two victories.
In one of the most devastating bowling performances in national carnival history, Central Coast off-spinner Emily Humphreys took 6-2 from four overs to sweep aside Tasmania for just 26 in the team’s second match of the day.
She was incredibly well supported by left-arm orthodox tweaker Sienna Eve, who set up the victory by ripping through the top order to finish with 4-7, completing figures that many could well have mistaken for the soccer field rather than bowling card.
After being sent into the field, Country’s decision to give Eve the new ball proved to be an absolute masterstroke.
In her first over, the second of the innings, the Newcastle representative spinner caught opener Ava Curtis off her own bowling and then clean bowled first drop Taylor Brooks in a double-wicket maiden to give her side the perfect start.
She then ripped one through Josephine Rose in her second over to have figures of 3-1 as Tasmania slumped to 3-10 after four overs.
But if Eve’s start was electric, then off-spinner Humphreys’ was absolute dynamite.
After going for just one in her first over, the offie came on for her second with the scores at 3-22 after eight overs.
Landing them right on the spot, she had Kate Sherriff caught at mid-on with the first ball of the over, before clean bowling Shelby Leonard with the second to be on a hat-trick.
And while Tasmania’s Sophia Di Venuto successfully saw off the hat-trick ball, Humphreys kept it tight to bowl a double-wicket maiden and leave Tassie absolutely reeling at 5-22.
That was just a taste of things to come, with Humphreys then dismissing Mia Barwick and Matilda Waddington in her next over to have four wickets in three overs.
Then when she had Di Venuto caught behind with the first ball from her fourth over, the tweaker’s figures were an incredible 5-1.
Unfortunately for Tasmania, Humphreys wasn’t quite finished, with the Central Coast star bowling Chloe Casey to finish with the ridiculous figures of 6-2 from four overs.
Eve then came on in the next over to finish what she started, bowling Jessica Ransley to finish with 4-7 from 3.3 and ensure that Tasmania were bundled out just 26.
It marked a stunning collapse from the Apple Islanders, who incredibly lost their last seven wickets for just four runs as they had no answer to Country’s spinners.
In reply, Olivia Callaghan and Samira Mitchell made sure there were no nasty surprises, passing the total unbeaten after just 3.1 overs to seal a quite remarkable 10-wicket win.
The victory pushed Country to the top of the ladder after the team’s bowlers earlier proved their worth with another excellent in the first-up start against the PNG under-23 team.
Batting first, Country got off to a disastrous start, losing top three batters Callaghan, Mitchell and Kate McTaggart cheaply to be reeling at 3-2 after just three overs.
Ava Ryan and Callee Black took up the rescue mission and put on 33, however when Ryan was dismissal for 11 left the team struggling at 4-37 after 10 overs.
Black looked the most fluent with the bat in hand and was in fact the only Country player to reach the boundary. However as she tried to move things along she was caught at mid-on for a well-made 23 from 24 balls.
This triggered a middle-order collapse, with Kinjal Kumari, Eliza Henry and Caoimhe Bray all falling cheaply as the side slumped to 8-58.
Eve tried to keep the innings together as her teammates fell around her, and did well to keep things ticking along until she was clean bowled with a beautiful delivery for 13.
PNG’s Buruka Vicky followed that up with another absolute peach the very next ball to knock over Delaney Laffy and ensure that Country were bowled out for 72 after 19 overs.
It capped off a brilliant performance from the PNG left-arm quick, who set the tone for the day with the stunning figures of 5-7 from four overs.
With only a small total to defend, Country turned to the unusual tactic of handing left-arm spinner Eve the ball in the second over.
In a precursor to what would come later, she struck with her very first ball by running back to the left to take a brilliant one-handed catch from her own bowling.
Country were keeping things tight and make scoring difficult for PNG, perhaps best demonstrated by Eve, who took 1-5 from four overs.
And then when Bray struck it left the side at 2-24 from 10 overs.
While they weren’t scoring quickly, Kila Rajadurai Lakshmi and Dika Lohia proved difficult to dismiss, putting on 30 to put their team in a position that needed 19 to win from the last two overs.
With the match still in the balance, Country skipper McTaggart brought herself on to bowl and knocked over Lakshmi’s stumps with her second ball to send the PNG star back to the pavilion for a match-high 24.
Needing an unlikely 18 from the final over, PNG pushed hard for runs, with McTaggart once again coming up with a big play, brilliantly running out Lohia with a direct hit to ensure that PNG finished 15 runs short.
Results
NSW Country 10-72 (Black 23, Eve 15; Vicky 5-7) defeated PNG under-23s 4-59 (Lakshmi 24, Lohia 14; McTaggart 1-1, Eve 1-5) by 13 runs
Tasmania 10-26 (Sherriff 13, Barwick 7; Humphreys 6-2, Eve 4-7) lost to NSW Country 0-27 (Callaghan 12*, Mitchell 12*) by 10 wickets
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