Caroline Springs claims maiden VTCA Women’s premiership, beating Westmeadows

A dominant all-round performance from Caitlin Pretty inspired Caroline Springs to a maiden VTCA Women’s premiership on Sunday.

A brilliant all-round performance from Caitlin Pretty secured Caroline Springs a maiden VTCA Women’s premiership on Sunday.

Pretty was dominant with bat and ball in the 65-run victory over reigning premier Westmeadows at PEGS.

The Falcons star smashed 90 not out, from just 53 balls, to guide her team to 5-141 from their 20 overs.

She then claimed 3-12 with the ball as the Warriors were held to 9-76 in reply to claim the Player of the Match medal.

The flag is Caroline Springs’ first women’s premiership, just six seasons after being formed, and redemption for last season’s grand final loss to Westmeadows.

Falcons captain Alisha Fowler ran out of superlatives for teammate Pretty.

“She’s had a remarkable season, 600 runs now at an average of more than 100,” Fowler said.

“That’s in T20, most people don’t get that in one-day or Test, so to do it in T20 is incredible.

“I was at the other end when she made a 47-ball hundred, so she’s seeing them like soccer balls at the moment.

“She plays with no fear, the last couple of overs she whacked about five sixes to get us up to 141 – it was crazy.

“She’s pretty handy with the ball and doesn’t normally get as many wickets but she doesn’t go for a lot of runs either.

“She went for 12 runs, which is close to the most she’s gone for all year, it’s normally 0-4 off four, she can bowl spin, pace, off-cutters, she can bowl anything.”

After another match-winning performance Pretty finishing the campaign with a remarkable 628 runs at an average of 104.67, with three centuries.

She scored 102 off 59 balls against Williamstown CYMS, 100 from 60 balls against Aberfeldie and an amazing 101 from just 47 balls against Glenroy-St Andrews Pascoe Vale.

The star all-rounder also has 10 wickets at just 7.20 and economy rate of 3.00.

Hannah Herring (2-12) and Myyen Au (2-13) also impressed with the ball for Caroline Springs.

“All our figures were really good, we had a plan going in to not bowl anything too straight because we knew they like to hit across the line,” Fowler said.

“Even the girls that didn’t get wickets didn’t go for many runs, we executed really well, I couldn’t have faulted any of the bowling.”

Au was the competition’s leading wicket-taker in the home-and-away season and finished the season with 13 wickets at 7.00.

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The premiership win is the club’s second in the last 12 months after the senior men won the Division 4 title last season.

Having got a taste of success, Fowler said the club was determined to return next season and do it again and even expand.

“It’s been five or six years in the making, so it’s not just about the 12 girls out there, it’s about all the other girls that have played previously as well,” she said.

“The girls are definitely going to stick together and we’ve got a couple more coming from other clubs.

“I’d love to get to 22 players so we can look at having another side, everyone is super keen for next season.”