Squads named as Premier series shines a light on top female Under 18 talent

Some of the state’s best young players will come together over three days for the first Under 18 girls series involving Premier clubs.

The Melbourne squad with coaches Teagan Parker and Brea Sutton.

Mia Gordon and Samara Dulvin both started the Premier Cricket season in the new Thirds competition.

That’s no surprise given they are 13.

But last Sunday they made First XI debuts, Mia for Essendon Maribyrnong Park against Ringwood and Dulvin for Prahran against Box Hill.

Both came in down the list and spent time in the middle. Mia hit 12 off 21 balls and Samara six off 18. She had been promoted after an innings of 46 not out in the seconds.

The girls will gain more experience next week when they play in the Premier Cricket Under 18 girls exhibition series.

Each team will play three matches in three days.

Mia and Samara were outstanding in the VMCU carnival that finished last Sunday.

Mia hit 401 runs and was dismissed once for Western Region in the Under 14 Julie Savage Shield.

Samara was also dismissed only once as she made 192 runs for Inner South East.

Dandenong players Lily-May Lyndon, Molly Harnett and Lillian Strong with coach Megan Pauwels.

Cricket Victoria high performance manager Dean Russ said the Under 18 series gave the clubs the opportunity to “make connections’’ with players yet to join Premier ranks, as well as give more experience to the girls already in the competition.

“It’s the case that some country players can’t commit to a whole season, because of school or work or whatever it may be,’’ Russ said.

“But through this series they can hopefully link with a Premier club and when they look to come to Melbourne they can go to the club where they’ve developed a relationship.

“Aside from that aspect of it, it’s a really good opportunity for talented players to showcase their wares.’’

Club great Megan Pauwels will coach the Dandenong team, which has brought in Gippsland quartet Matilda Prendergast, Abby Wrigglesworth, Acacia Sutton, Lillian Strong and Lily-May Lyndon.

Abby’s sister Grace is already with the Panthers.

Ella Hayward, who made her WBBL debut with the Melbourne Renegades earlier in the season, will captain Melbourne’s Under 18 team.

The off-spinning all-rounder is playing in the Demons’ First XI.

Ella Hayward of Melbourne.

The Melbourne squad includes 13-year-old Zoe Samuels, who is already part of the Cricket Victoria Metro Under 16 female “emerging performance squad’’.

Fast bowler Georgia Gall will skipper the EMP XI. The 16-year-old was included in the Cricket Australia XI at the 2018-19 Under 18 national championships and was signed by the Melbourne Stars.

Gall, Grace Jones and Grace Thompson are all in the Victorian Under 19 emerging players squad.

Lily Pelosi was the joint top wicket-taker in the VMCU Under 16 Mel Jones Shield with 12 scalps at 12.83 for North West Metro.

Gall, Jones, Ruby James and Emily Maisey have all figured in the Essendon Maribrynong Park First XI this season.

The Plenty Valley squad includes plenty of Premier Women’s First XI experience with Simran Gandhi, Siena Ferrara, Jasleen Kaur, Ribhya Syan and Aanliya Cheeran all featuring in the top grade this season.

Anusha Joshi and Rachel Hegarty loom as dangerous bowlers after taking eight and seven wickets respectively for the DVCA in the VMCU Under 16 Mel Jones Shield. Gandhi and Jasmine Nevins are members of the Victorian Under 19 emerging talent squad.

After making her Premier Women’s First XI debut last season, Tahlia Meier has continued to impress with 145 runs (15th most in the competition) at 29 so far this season, earning Box Hill captaincy honours.

Isabel White, Lara Shannon and Jas Fleming have all appeared in the top grade this season. Meier and Shannon are also part of the Victorian Under 19 emerging talent squad.

At just 15, Emily Mitchell is the fifth most prolific wicket-taker in Premier Women’s first grade with 11 scalps at an average of 16.82.

Strikers skipper Cailin Green and Jorja Anderson are both part of the Victorian Under 19 emerging players squad and will be looking to impress, while Sara Kennedy, Lille Barendsen and Bridie Groves are in the Under 16 emerging squad.

Georgia Egan will be one to watch with the bat after knocking in 241 runs at 40.17 in the Mel Jones Shield for North West Metro.

Ringwood District won the Mel Jones Shield and a number of players from its grand final team are already at Ringwood and will take part in the Under 18 series.

They include batters Alexandra Sheedy, Tegan Rule and Hayley McLaughlin.

Rhys McKenna and Jaide Anthony are both batting in the top-order for Prahran’s Premier Firsts team and will be key players in the Under 18 fixtures.

SQUADS

BOX HILL

Tahlia Meier (captain), Amelie Gladman, Ash O’Farrell, Ellen Bradley, Emma Stilve, Isabel White, Jas Fleming, Jaz Gouldson, Jessica Walker, Katherine Dekel, Kaya Stavretis, Lara Shannon, Leah Charalambous, Phoebe Nelson, Sarah McNulty, Stella Burke (all Box Hill)

CARLTON-BRUNSWICK

Cailin Green, Emily Mitchell, Sara Kennedy, Lillee Barendsen, Sarah Jenkinson, Georgia Egan, Charli Copeland, Zarlie Goldsworthy, Bridie Groves, Jorja Anderson, Hannah Flood, Morgan Gandolfo, Fiona Jenkinson, Issy Bolton, Joeline Herathge, Lucinda Lowe, Honey Raut, Hannah Brne, Alyssa Lucas, Claudia O’Neil, Sara Burns

DANDENONG

Kasey Arumanayagam (Kingston Heath), Jessica Caron (Dandenong, Tyabb), Poppy Gardner (Dandenong, Seaford Tigers), Molly Harnett (Tootgarook), Lily-May Lyndon (Sale), Thivyaa Mahendran (Dandenong, Bentleigh), Vaishnavi Munukutla (Burwood), Matilda Pendergast (Stratford), Montana Phillips (Dandenong, Langwarrin), Yashoda Senarathne (Dandenong Cricket Club), Evie Stansby (Dandenong), Lillian Strong (Meerlieu), Acacia Sutton (Collegians), Uvindee Wijesena (Dandenong, Glen Waverley), Grace Wrigglesworth (Dandenong, Bundalaguah), Abby Wrigglesworth (Bundalaguah).

ESSENDON MARIBRYNONG PARK

Georgia Gall (Essendon Maribyrnong Park, captain), Emily Maisey (EMP, Sanctuary Lakes/Hoppers Crossing) (VC), Jorja Couch (Nirranda), Zoe Dixon (Geelong), Madeline Green (Port Fairy), Eliza Jagger (EMP, College), Ruby James (EMP, Nhill District), Grace Jones (EMP, Armstrong Creek), Lily Pelosi (Greenvale, Pascoe Vale Hadfield), Hannah Rooke (Essendon Maribyrnong Park), Gemma Tarshis (EMP, Parkdale), Grace Thompson (EMP, Doutta Stars), Mia VanDyke (Geelong, St Joseph’s), Sophie Walker (EMP, Euroa), Lila Wilkinson (Merrivale, Russells Creek)

MELBOURNE

Ella Hayward (captain), Annecy Homberg (vc), Jessica Bohn, Hasrat Gill, Jade Johnson, Tess Keogh, Kamilot Kaur, Flip Leighton, Kampi Nainhabo, Alice O’Brien, Amelie O’Meara, Vanchica Pathania, Mia Perrin, Abbey Samild, Ella Stallwood, Zoe Samuel

PLENTY VALLEY

Siena Ferrara (Rosanna), Simran Gandhi (Bundoora United), Arielle Glatte (West Bendigo), Emma Hallissey (North Eltham Wanderers), Rachel Hegarty (Research Eltham Collegians), Anusha Joshi (Mernda), Jasleen Kaur (Lower Plenty), Katie Lamb (Research Eltham Collegians), Lana Manning (Research Eltham Collegians), Jasmine Nevins (Kangaroo Flat), Navleen Sandhu (Mernda), Prabhleen Sandhu (Mernda), Ribhya Syan (Gellibrand), Delaney Laffy (Echuca), Amelie Sibillin (Holy Trinity), Aarzu Mavi (Pascoe Vale Hadfield), Abbey Boorman (Taylors Lakes), Mia Oakley (Taylors Lakes), Aanliya Cheeran (City United), Letesha Bawden (Bendigo), Charlotte McGillivray (Leitchville Gunbower)

PRAHRAN

Rhys McKenna, Jaide Anthony, Paris Bowdler, Kirrily Bruce, Samara Dulvin, Anna Quincey-Munroe, Madeleine White, Elizabeth Cormack, Meika King, Madeleine Huggins, Jemma Heitlinger, Maddison Heitlinger, Ollie Cooper, Ellen Williams

RINGWOOD

Haylee Landi (Ringwood, captain), Jordyn Doevelaar (Ringwood), Hayley McLaughlin (Ringwood), Tegan Rule (Ringwood), Alex Sheedy (Ringwood), Chloe Blacker (Ringwood),

Helena Aquila (Ringwood), Keeley Miutescu (Ringwood), Rosie Sykes (Ringwood), Mia Gouws (Ringwood), Cassie Bull (Ringwood), Olivia Edwards (Mt Evelyn), Charlotte Edwards (Mt Evelyn), Skye Wilson (Mt Evelyn), Lily Osborn (Ringwood)