Sam Bates stars with bat and ball, Essendon Maribyrnong Park into top four

Boom recruit Sam Bates dominated and Chloe Rafferty returned as Essendon Maribyrnong Park moved into the Premier Cricket top four.

Sam Bates in action for the Sydney Thunder.

Boom recruit Sam Bates produced arguably her best performance of the season on Sunday as Essendon Maribyrnong Park moved into the Premier Cricket top four.

The Victoria and Sydney Thunder all-rounder was dominant with bat and ball in the Bombers’ two-wicket win over Prahran at Toorak Park.

Bates claimed 3-19 to hold the True Blues to 143 and then top-scored with the bat, making 35, to help her team home with five overs to spare.

In a further boost ACT and Hobart Hurricanes bowler Chloe Rafferty returned and Tasmania and Sydney Thunder wicketkeeper Emily Smith also made a critical contribution in her second game.

Smith and former Bombers Elyse Villani and Nat Schilov helped guide Bates to Aberfeldie Park and it’s paying dividends for both sides.

Sam Bates in action for Sydney Thunder.

EMP coach George Shaw said Bates had made a major impact on and off the field since arriving.

“Sam came to EMP wanting to bat in the top six and she batted really well for 35, 35 on that was pretty difficult and she did a great job,” he said.

“She wanted to show everyone she can bat because she normally bats 10 or 11 in a lot of games and so far she’s batted five or six and has been a delight.

“Her bowling skill sets are just wonderful, she opened the bowling (on Sunday) and showed everyone how good she is, she has such variety.

“On top of that, she’s brought in a load of leadership and is feeding that off to our younger girls.

“Tia Davidge batted with Batesy and they put on 54, 54 as a partnership was brilliant, and Tia is only 16 but she listened, learnt and executed.”

Chasing a tricky total, Essendon Maribyrnong Park were tettering at 4-58 before Bates and Davidge (21) turned the contest.

Rafferty then saw her team home with 18 not out.

Chloe Rafferty in action for Victoria in 2019.

Emily Smith during her time at the Hobart Hurricanes.

“Chloe came back and made a heck of a difference,” Shaw said.

“She got us over the line with her batting and bowled really well, 1-19 off eight was outstanding and just having someone of her quality around the playing group is great.”

Earlier, skipper Makinley Blows (2-14), Molly Illingworth (2-28) and Katia Jomini (2-37) supported Bates with the ball.

Prahran were in strife at 4-12 before a fighting 58 from Merinda Hale got her team back in the contest but it proved too little to defend.

The win is EMP’s third in a row and lifts the club into the top four for the first time this season.

A crucial clash against fifth-placed Ringwood looms on Saturday but Shaw can see his team is starting to find top gear.

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“I’ll call it workmanlike, we probably should have made those runs a little bit easier but credit to Prahran, they threw everything at us,” he said.

“The girls are getting some self belief.

“It’s all in our hands now and we’ve got a big game coming up against Ringwood, who are sitting just behind us.

“It’s a good opportunity to test our strengths and the level the girls can reach, if we bowl like we have the last two weeks and tidy up our batting it should be a good contest.”