Howzat! Ringwood District wins its first VMCU girls shield

And the South East and Inner South East associations also enjoy success at the annual representative cricket carnival.

The triumphant Ringwood District Under 16 team. Photo courtesy of RDCA, Field of View Photography.

A drive down the ground for four and there it was, victory for the South East girls.

There was also a release of tension after Sunday’s grand final in the VMCU Under 12 Claudia Fatone Shield went down to the last over at Balmoral Reserve in Derrimut.

The South East started it needing six runs against Western Region.

Then the equation became two runs from three balls, the South East on 5-117 in reply to 4-118.

Fittingly, Aanya Jaswal scored the winning runs with a boundary. She’d retired after 20 balls and returned to finish with 47 not out off 39 deliveries, with 9 fours.

The South East team lost only one match during the carnival – to the Western Region side it defeated in the grand final.

Abbey Samild and Mia Perrin coached the side.

The South East Under 12 team.

Abbey, 17, had played in the first Claudia Fatone Shield (which honours a stalwart of Victorian women’s cricket) and seven seasons later was part of another title-winning team.

“Winning is great but the journey and keeping girls playing cricket is far more important,’’ she said.

The South East also took the Under 14 title, the Julie Savage Shield, this time overcoming North West Metropolitan.

The SECA scored 7-144 and held its opponent to 8-130.

There were runs for Mikayla Collins (47no off 51 balls) and Amelia O’Meara (35no) and two wickets for Mia Ursprung, Olivia Smith and Matilda Lloyd.

O’Meara had an outstanding time of it with the bat, scoring 261 runs and being dismissed once.

Ringwood and District lifted the Under 16 Mel Jones Shield after overcoming North West Metropolitan in the grand final.

The South East CA Under 14s.

The winners put up 5-153 – opener Alexandra Sheedy hit 39 and captain Hayley McLaughlin 48 not out – and kept NWM to 7-125.

Opening bowler Lily Osborne captured 3-19 off eight overs and first-changer Keely Miutescu 2-25 off eight.

The Ringwood District girls celebrate a wicket.

Ringwood and District went through the carnival undefeated – winning six home-and-away matches and two finals – to give the association its first girls title.

Five of its players were in the top 11 wicket-takers in the competition.

Ringwood Premier player Cassie Stephens was coach.

The Inner South East Under 18 girls, with the great Cathryn Fitzpatrick on the right.

The Inner South East was crowned the Under 18 Cathryn Fitzpatrick Shield champion after cruising past North West Metropolitan, 1-70 in less than 13 overs in response to 6-69.

Sahasni Wanigatunga (2-6) led the bowling and Ellen Williams (35no) the batting.

Evie Stansby was 15 not out and ended the series with 205 runs. Her only dismissal came against Ringwood District, when she made 61.

Premiership teams

South East, Under 12 Claudia Fatone Shield

Aanya Jaswal, Georgia Naughton, Aditi Jaswal, Riva Guliya, Grace Campbell, Lucy Fletcher, Ishita Tiwari, Lily Baker, Chiara Pribil, Lara Seeary, Imogen Campbell

South East, Under 14 Julie Savage Shield

Mikayla Collins, Mia Ursprung, Amelie O’Meara, Amy Brougham, Bridget Savic, Hayley Carr, Matilda Lloyd, Tanisha Perera, Darcy Russell, Olivia Smith, Frankie Shepard

Ringwood District, Under 16 Mel Jones Shield

Tegan Rule, Alexandra Sheedy, Helena Aquila, Hayley McLaughlin, Ella Russell, Holly Gray, Keely Miutescu, Lily Osborn, Rosemary Sykes, Olivia Edwards, Tiah Peterson, Jasmine Dane

Inner South East, Under 18 Cathryn Fitzpatrick Shield

Ellen Williams, Vanchica Pathania, Evie Stansby, Ruby Burns, Madeleine Huggins, Sanzi Solanki, Olivia Cooper, Yashoda Senarathne, Sahasni Wanigatunga, Jade Johnson, Uvindee Wijesena, Simrah Shaikh, Zara Shaikh