Ella Hayward a standout in Premier Cricket Girls Under 18 series

And Mia Perrin also performs well as the state’s best under-age female talent turns out in club colours.

Ella Hayward after her innings of 88 for Melbourne.

Ella Hayward was playing in the Women’s Big Bash League in Sydney earlier in the season.

Yesterday she was playing in a more low-key series, the Premier Cricket Under 18 girls tournament, at Beaumaris Secondary College.

Just 16 when she turned out for the Melbourne Renegades, Hayward has since turned 17 and captained Melbourne in the PC series.

Each of the eight clubs played three matches, although heat affected Monday’s games.

Unsurprisingly, Hayward gave one of the outstanding performances, an innings of 88 against Carlton-Brunswick at Beaumaris.

She faced 110 balls and clipped 11 fours to lead the Demons to victory. It was her highest score for the club.

Melbourne made 6-223 off its 40 overs and dismissed the Blues for 100.

Hayward said it was exciting to play in the Big Bash.

“I had seven or eight games, a lot more than I expected,’’ she said.

“It was a great experience. I was away for almost two months, which was challenging but it was worth it to play at that level.

“It was a great standard. I loved that challenge.’’

She took a star turn against the Melbourne Stars with her right-arm offies, collecting 4-16 off four overs.

“Beautiful bowling,’’ fizzed Michael Slater in the commentary box.

Hayward led Melbourne to three wins over the three days in the Under 18 series, starting with a run-rate victory over Prahran on Monday.

The Demons also batted well on Australia Day, stacking up 5-214 against Essendon Maribyrnong Park, which replied with 117. Hasrat Gill (44) and Mia Perrin (57) had an opening partnership of 109, after which Annecy Homberg (25), Zoe Samuel (27) and Jessica Bohn (23no) got busy.

Bohn also weighed in with 37 not out against Carlton-Brunswick on Tuesday.

Hayward said the Under 18 series was a chance for young players to show their ability.

She said the players enjoyed the experience.

Wicketkeeper Perrin (102) and Hayward (100) made the most runs in the series, followed by Box Hill’s Tahlia Meier (75 from two hits) and Ringwood’s Helena Aquila (72 from two innings).

Jaide Anthony (Prahran) and Ella Stallwood (Melbourne) both took six wickets.

Many of the girls played in a Vic Country-Vic Metro Under 16 series at Ian Johnson Oval last week after the border closure forced the cancellation of the planned northern summer series in Albury.

Gill, Perrin, Milly Illingworth, Isa White, Aanliya Cheeran, Uvindee Wijesena and Sara Kennedy were standout players.