Kuwait international Maryam Omar debuts for Sunshine Heights

An international female cricketer has “given a buzz” to Sunshine Heights after a game-changing performance on VTCA debut in a male-dominated match. Here’s her incredible knock.

Kuwait international cricketer Maryam Omar played a game-changing innings on debut for Sunshine Heights in the VTCA division three seconds competition on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Kuwait national women’s team captain scored an impressive 23 off 48 balls on a pitch that was bowler-friendly and “really hard” to bat on all day.

Sunshine Heights president Walter Saldanha presenting international cricketer Maryam Omar with her cap on debut. (Picture: Supplied)

Omar’s contribution was the highest of the top seven batters in the team as she came in at number six to get her team out of trouble and to a competitive total of 7-189 after the allotted 40 overs.

The momentum swing sparked by Omar’s gritty 48-ball knock, the longest in the innings, laid a strong platform for club legend Shane Ramsey and Parminder Ralh to finish the innings with 61 from 38 balls.

It led to a percentage-boosting win for Heights who stormed through Pascoe Vale Hadfield in the seconds innings, bowling them out for 56 runs in 20 overs to start the season on top of the ladder.

Omar said “it was a great win” and enjoyed the debut experience with a “really supportive” team.

“I definitely felt like I was welcomed and valued as part of the team,” Omar said.

“The officials Marcela and Wally were there early preparing for the game and they were ready there with my kit.

“They did a bit of a speech which was really nice and it made me feel like I’m valued and not a lot of pressure obviously because I am the only girl in the seniors but I actually really felt like I fit in.

“The boys they were really supportive and welcoming and a bit of banter as well which is nice.

“It’s always good to have that normal banter and not make the environment tense.”

Omar said attending Tuesday sessions at the club on top of her commitments with premier club Carlton made it helpful in knowing her teammates and having some chemistry in the team.

She was also excited about the fact she could begin playing on Saturday’s on top of Sunday matches in Victorian Premier Cricket with Carlton.

Former Australian test cricketer Colin Miller is another international to have played at Sunshine Heights. (Photo by Ross Setford/EMPICS via Getty Images)

Omar, the first female to play in the Heights seniors said she was hopeful her debut could inspire more females to join the club.

“Hopefully I can pave the way for many other females to join the club,” she said.

“I know that the club is keen to get a female side on board and develop the female program so hopefully me being added to the club will attract more females and maybe help Sunshine Heights bring a female side on.”

Heights president Walter Saldanha said Omar’s breakthrough into the male-dominated senior team was an inspiration for the club’s other female participant Reannah Bourke.

“Reannah is the only female junior at the club so from her perspective to have someone like Maryam who is an international player come and play is an inspiration to her,” Saldanha said.

“It’s given a bit of a buzz and now Marcela (a female club administrator) is running the master blasters so hopefully through that we are going to get more female interest in the game.”

Saldanha said the club was also keen to increase participation across the board following a small fall in numbers since Covid.