Isabel White takes star turn for Box Hill in women’s Premier Cricket

It was ‘surreal’ for 15-year-old Isabel White to play cricket with Australian captain Megan Lanning, who helped the youngster to a six-wicket bag.

Isabel White after her six-wicket bag for Box Hill.

Two big things happened to emerging cricketer Isabel White on Sunday.

The 15-year-old took six wickets for Box Hill in the Premier Cricket Women’s Firsts competition.

And she played alongside her idol, Australian captain Megan Lanning, who was making a rare appearance for the club.

It was the first time Isabel had been introduced to Lanning.

The off-spinner finished with the dazzling figures of 6-16 off 8.2 overs against Dandenong at Shepley Oval – and Lanning took two catches off her bowling.

Meg Lanning took two catches off the bowling of Isabel White.

Showing her all-round ability, Isabel also made 37 in a losing cause. Box Hill was chasing 168 but was dismissed for 147, with Lanning bowled by Dandenong medium-pacer Emma “Gags’’ Gallagher for five, the fourth time Gallagher had knocked over the champion.

Isabel made her First XI debut for Box Hill in 2019-20, when she was also in the club’s Under 14 team.

A Victorian Under 15 representative, she has played every match in the top team this season.

“Very exciting,’’ she said after her first five-wicket haul.

“I don’t normally bowl a lot in the firsts so it was a good opportunity.’’

Asked about her heroes in cricket, she said: “The main one is Meg, actually! It was good to officially meet her today. It’s pretty surreal to be playing with her. I’m used to watching her on TV so it’s really cool to be in the field with her.

“I think she was pretty happy with my bowling. She said to me to keep doing what I’m doing.’’

Isabel started playing junior cricket at Kerrimuir United Cricket Club when she was 12, joining Box Hill two years ago to play in the Under 14s.

She’s now in the Cricket Victoria emerging players program, and was a stand-out player in the VMCU carnival this month.

Box Hill coach Kathryn McDonald said Isabel was making good progress with her cricket.

“She bowled extremely well today, bowled beautifully. Her length was superb, and her bowling has improved quite a bit from last season,’’ McDonald said.

Two of Dandenong’s young players also did well in the Round 9 match, with Tiana Atkinson opening the batting and making 45, and left-arm opening bowler Poppy Gardner taking 2-37 off 10 overs.

But club stalwart Gallagher was the matchwinner with her haul of 3-24 off 10 overs, knocking back Lanning’s off-stump.

Owing to her state and international commitments, it was only Lanning’s fifth appearance for Box Hill in three years.