Under-19s Country Cricket Championships: Top players, stars, team of the tournament

There are devastating batters, destructive quicks and classy tweakers. Find out who made the under-19 Country Championships team of the tournament.

There were plenty of star performers during the under-19s country cricket championships. Picture: supplied

Some of the state’s most talented junior cricketers have put on a show over the past week as the women’s under-19 female Country Championships took place in Woolgoolga on the Mid-North Coast.

In what was a reformed tournament that featured four teams representing larger regions instead of the eight traditional zones, the combined Newcastle and Central Coast team – known as the New Coasters – took out the title with a 38-run win in the final.

Following a great week of action, we’ve put together a team of the tournament that features the biggest hitters, craftiest bowlers and most talented all-rounders.

Check out who made our side.

ELLA TILBURG (SOUTH WEST)

In addition to her runs, Ella Tilburg was tidy behind the stumps. Picture: Leigh Jensen

75 runs at 18.75

A real rock at the top of the order, Tilburg was one of the main factors behind South West’s success with the bat throughout the week.

While also tidy behind the stumps as a keeper, the vice-captain’s best performance came in the round three rout of the Northern Stars with an excellent 35 from 39 balls.

MADDISON SPENCE (SOUTH WEST): 

75 runs at 18.75

The other half of South West’s excellent opening partnership, Spence was equally impressive at the top of the order and remarkably finished with the same runs and average as her partner Tilburg.

Top-scoring in the team’s first-up win against Southern NSW, she also rose to the occasion in the final against the New Coasters, scoring a crucial 32 at the top of the order to before the team eventually fell short after a rain delay.

KATE MCTAGGART (NEW COASTERS)

Kate McTaggart scored an excellent half-century in the final. Picture: Leigh Jensen

94 runs at 31.3

One of the stars of the tournament, the Newcastle top-order batter finished with the most runs in the country championships.

While solid in the first half of the week, McTaggart saved her best for last as she scored a brilliant 51 – the highest score of the week – in the final that proved to be crucial in delivering the New Coasters the title.

CALLEE BLACK (SOUTH WEST)

Callee Black made excellent contributions with both the bat and ball. Picture: Leigh Jensen

89 runs at 44.5 and 3 wickets at 8.7

The NSW Country representative well and truly showed her class with another stellar carnival for South West.

Kicking off the tournament with knocks of 17 and 25*, Black – who grew up in Wellington and Bathurst in the state’s Central West – was travelling well on 38 and appeared primed to lead South West to a stunning victory in the final against the New Coasters before succumbing to a nasty hamstring injury that ended her game – and her team’s chances with it.

In addition to her runs, Black was also impressive with the ball, picking up wickets in every game that she bowled with her left-arm seamers.

EMILY HUMPHREYS (NEW COASTERS)

Emily Humphreys is a prime contender for player of the tournament. Picture: Sue Graham

59 runs at 29.5 and 4 wickets at 12.75

Another contender for player of the tournament, the all-rounder from the Central Coast was absolutely outstanding with the bat and ball as she came up with some crucial plays late in the week to help deliver her team the title.

After not batting in the first two games, Humphreys came in at number four and stabilised the team in both the last group game and final when her team was under pressure, top scoring with 33 against South in round four before scoring a crucial 26 from 62 balls in the final as she teamed up with McTaggart to put on a 50-run stand.

But it wasn’t just with the bat where she shone, with Humphreys taking four wickets as she made key breakthroughs with the ball, perhaps notably knocking over dangerous South West opener Maddison Spence for 32 in the final when she looked set and ready for big innings.

SOPHIE PARSONS (NORTHERN STARS)

Sophie Parsons was once of the Northern Stars’ best performers. Picture: Solstice Digital

59 runs at 14.75 and 4 wickets at 9.25

While perhaps not the best tournament for her high standards, Parsons earns a spot in our team of the tournament on the back of some solid knocks at the crease and handy contributions with the ball.

Opening for her team, the young gun from Invergowrie in NSW’s Northern Tablelands top scored in two of the Northern Stars’ four games and also chimed in with an ultimately crucial 3-14 from eight overs in the team’s round four win over Southern NSW.

ELIZA THOMPSON (NEW COASTERS)

66 runs and 1 wicket at 34

Eliza Thompson batting for the New Coasters. 2024 women's under-19s country championships final between New Coasters and South West at Wiigulga Sporting Complex, Woolgoolga. Picture: Leigh Jensen

One of the stars of the competition, Thompson was arguably the clutch player of the tournament with a string of crucial displays that dug her team out of trouble and delivered it the title.

With the New Coasters struggling at 5-84 in the round four clash against South West, Thompson showed plenty of game smarts to bat with the tail and score a vital 26 not out from 59 balls as the side ground out an 11-run win.

History seemed to repeat itself in the final. After a strong start the side has fallen to 5-94, however Thompson once again dug in with the lower order to score an unbeaten 36 from 74 balls to drag her side to a healthy total of 189.

A real thorn in the side of opposition attacks, Thompson remarkably went through the whole tournament without being dismissed.

HOLLY REED (SOUTH WEST)

Holly Reed causing top order batters headaches all week. Picture: Leigh Jensen

5 wickets at 11.8 and 26 runs at 13

The pick of the South West bowlers, the right-arm medium-pacer troubled batters all week with her bounce and line. While others might have taken more wickets, it was the nature of Reed’s dismissals that made her performances all the more impressive as she regular took out the top order.

In the opening game of the tournament against Southern NSW she struck with two quick wickets early to hand her side a DLS victory, before removing Newcastle openers Sophie Clune and Molly in round four and dismissing the dangerous Emily Humphreys in the final.

In addition, the young gun from Orange scored a crucial 21 not out to get her side home in round two.

AVA DRURY (NEW COASTERS)

With 10 wickets, Ava Drury finished as the leading wicket-taker. Picture: Martin Ollman

10 wickets at 7.6

Without doubt the absolute standout bowler of the tournament, the left-arm orthodox spinner was a class above as she finished with 10 wickets, three clear of the next best.

Taking multiple wickets in every game, Drury saved her best for the back end of the tournament, taking 4-24 against South West to turn the game in her side’s narrow round four victory, before claiming the crucial scalp of opener Ella Tilburg in the final as finished with figures of 2-30 from eight.

KEISHA BALDWIN (SOUTHERN NSW)

Keisha Baldwin was the best quick of the tournament. Picture: Cricket Australia

7 wickets at 6.1

From the best spinner to the best quick, Baldwin confirmed why she was selected for NSW Country with a stunning performance in what was a tough tournament for Southern NSW.

Quick and with the ability to swing the ball, the Corrimal cricketer regularly made inroads into the top order and picked up her tournament-best figures of 3-12 in the round four against the Northern Stars.

MADISON KEDWELL (NEW COASTERS)

5 wickets at 4.4

She might have only bowled twice and batted once over the course of the week, but the young Novocastrian certainly made an impact with two crucial interventions with the ball.

Kicking things off in the first game of the carnival, Kedwell took 3-10 as the New Coasters romped home to an eight-wicket win before taking two crucial middle-order scalps in one over to trigger a South West collapse in the final and ultimately help her team to the title.

12th: NATALIA EGAN (SOUTHERN NSW)

Natalia Egan was a threat with the ball for Southern NSW. Picture: Martin Ollman

5 wickets at 7.8

Unlucky not to make the first XI of the team of the tournament, the medium-pacer from Narooma on the South Coast combined well with Baldwin to spearhead the Southern NSW attack.

With the ability to swing the ball, she took plenty of top-order wickets and kept things tight over the course of the week.