NewsBite

The best performers from the Darwin and District Cricket Competition’s women’s division over the past three years

Women’s cricket in Darwin has gone from strength to strength in recent years and here are some of the best players behind its renaissance.

Which players have aided the rebirth of women’s cricket in Darwin?

A historic seven teams will compete in the women’s division of the Darwin and District Cricket Competition this season, which starts on Friday night.

Women’s cricket in Darwin has had very much an on and off history.

It was relatively strong in 2009, with five teams, before those numbers tapered off to just two by 2011, and stopped completely by 2013.

But the women’s version of the game underwent a renaissance in 2019 after several years in hiatus.

AT PINT CC, the club will field an all-girls Under 12 team while local comedian Amy Heatherington has been training for the women’s senior squad.

At Palmerston, player Kara McMahon said the team would be a “good mix of people and skill levels so everyone gets a go”.

Amber Cloughessy has represented the Territory. Picture: Cricket Australia.
Amber Cloughessy has represented the Territory. Picture: Cricket Australia.

However, all Premier Grade teams now have a stake in the women’s game, with Waratah producing a future star in 20-year-old Monet Hunter, considered to be one of the quickest bowlers in the Territory, punishing batter and outstanding fielder.

“(She) has the potential to get into a WBBl squad next summer,” club leader Chris McCormick said.

THE BATTERS AND BOWLERS BEHIND THE RESURGENCE IN WOMEN’S CRICKET

2021

Krystelle Jones

CLUB: Tracy Village

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 158

HIGHEST SCORE: 38 v PINT

WICKETS: Eight at 10.13

BB: 3/11 against Waratah

Matisse Hunter

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 134

HS: 31 v Southern Districts

WICKETS: Eight at 10.13

BB: 4/6 against Nightcliff

Monet Hunter

Monet Hunter bowling for a Territory representative side. Picture: Supplied.
Monet Hunter bowling for a Territory representative side. Picture: Supplied.

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 130

HS: 38 v Tracy Village

Phillipa Cox

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: five

RUNS: 93

HS: 24 against Tracy Village and Nightcliff

Kara McMahon

CLUB: Palmerston

MATCHES: Five

RUNS: 108

HS: 29 against PINT

WICKETS: Seven at 10.57

BB: 3/17 against Southern Districts

Waratah won the women’s premiership in 2021, beating Southern Districts by six wickets. Picture: Waratah CC.
Waratah won the women’s premiership in 2021, beating Southern Districts by six wickets. Picture: Waratah CC.

Kat Byron

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

WICKETS: Six at 6.83

BB: 2/3 against Southern Districts

2020

Tarryn O’Heir

CLUB: Waratah

RUNS: 52

HS: 15 against Palmerston

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 52

HS: 15 v Palmerston

Kiarah Jackson

CLUB: Southern Districts

MATCHES: Seven

RUNS: 39

HS: 17 against PINT

WICKETS: Eight wickets at 6.38

BB: 4/9 against PINT

Monet Hunter

Monet Hunter has been tipped to get signed by a WBBL team next summer. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.
Monet Hunter has been tipped to get signed by a WBBL team next summer. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 71

HS: 19 v PINT

WICKETS: Five wickets at 7.6

BB: 4/12 against Southern Districts

Kara McMahon

CLUB: Palmerston

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 71

HS: 22 v Waratah

Amber Cloughessy

Amber Cloughessy with Alex Blyton. Picture: NT Cricket.
Amber Cloughessy with Alex Blyton. Picture: NT Cricket.

CLUB: Southern Districts

MATCHES: Five

RUNS: 63

HS: 25 v PINT

Frances Ennor

CLUB: Southern Districts

MATCHES: Five

RUNS: 61

HS: 25 v Palmerston

Breanna Martin and Melissa Campbell with last season’s championship trophy. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.
Breanna Martin and Melissa Campbell with last season’s championship trophy. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.

Teaghan Coutts

CLUB: Palmerston

RUNS: 43

HS: 17 against PINT

MATCHES: Three

WICKETS: Six wickets at four

BB: 3/4 against PINT

Tina Carlson

CLUB: Palmerston

MATCHES: Six

WICKETS: Six at nine.

BB: 3/9 against Southern Districts

2019

Megan White

Waratah player Megan White playing in the Strike League. Picture: NT Cricket.
Waratah player Megan White playing in the Strike League. Picture: NT Cricket.

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 140

HS: 31 v Palmerston

WICKETS: Five wickets at 11.2

BB: 2/26 against Palmerston

Amanda Challen

Amanda Challen with Kylie Hyde. Picture: Amanda Challen.
Amanda Challen with Kylie Hyde. Picture: Amanda Challen.

CLUB: Palmerston

MATCHES:

RUNS: 50

HS: 17 v Waratah

WICKETS: Five at 9.6

BB: 3/23 against Waratah

Melissa Campbell

Waratah’s Melissa Campbell represented ACT before moving to the NT. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.
Waratah’s Melissa Campbell represented ACT before moving to the NT. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 133

HS: 41 v Southern Districts

Campbell with former Test captain Tim Paine. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.
Campbell with former Test captain Tim Paine. Picture: Waratah Cricket Club.

Breanna Martin

CLUB: Waratah

MATCHES: Six

RUNS: 89

HS: 32 v Palmerston

WICKETS: Three at 29

BB: 2/21 against Southern Districts

Rianna Carlson

Rianna Carlson won the Junior Cricketer of the Year award at Palmerston in 2018. Picture: Palmerston Cricket Club.
Rianna Carlson won the Junior Cricketer of the Year award at Palmerston in 2018. Picture: Palmerston Cricket Club.

CLUB: Palmerston

MATCHES: Three

RUNS: 66

HS: 43 v Waratah

WICKETS: Two at 10

BB: 2/20 against Waratah

Rianna Carlson pulls a short ball through mid-wicket for the NT under-18 women's side. Picture: Darren Howe/Bendigo Advertiser
Rianna Carlson pulls a short ball through mid-wicket for the NT under-18 women's side. Picture: Darren Howe/Bendigo Advertiser

Originally published as The best performers from the Darwin and District Cricket Competition’s women’s division over the past three years

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/northern-territory/the-best-performers-from-the-darwin-and-district-cricket-competitions-womens-division-over-the-past-three-years/news-story/f30cdc328e79b7981f40b705c67ddfeb