Sydney Sixers young gun Caoimhe Bray scores winning runs in stunning WBBL debut
Caoimhe Bray has made a stunning WBBL debut at just 15 years, claiming a key wicket for the Sydney Sixers and striking the winning runs against Melbourne Renegades.
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Sydney Sixers young gun Caoimhe Bray was hoping to celebrate her stunning WBBL debut at Adelaide Oval on Sunday with an ice cream with her parents.
Just 15 years, Bray claimed the prized wicket of West Indian Deandra Dottin and struck the winning runs in the opening round triumph over Melbourne Renegades to announce her presence on the big stage.
“When I got out on the field my heart was racing a bit,” Bray said.
“I got the ball quite a bit in the field so that calmed me down.
“My first WBBL game, first win, it can’t get any better.”
Bray, a year nine student who has represented Australia in under age soccer as a goalkeeper, was summoned into the line-up after the Sixers were hit by a spate of injuries to key personnel.
After her first ball was belted for six by Dottin, Bray was thinking ‘oh, no”. She then conceded a couple of fours and a wide in her only over, before bowling the dangerous Renegades’ batter with a terrific yorker.
“After that first ball I was thinking, ‘I can warm up and it will be all right’,” she said. “I did not know if my final ball was going to be a yorker, but it worked out and I’m super happy with that.”
Bray said Sixers captain Ellyse Perry, fielding at mid off, had kept her “chilled” with constant chat.
The Sixers were under the pump at 7/147 when Bray joined Scottish wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce at the crease. Bray’s first scoring shot was a four and she finished with 12 runs from five balls, including a boundary, to get the Sixers home.
“I was a bit nervy going out to bat, but there were not big expectations on me compared to the other top dogs,” Bray said.
Asked if she would be at school tomorrow, Bray responded: “I wish”. Then quickly added, “no I don’t.”
Bray, the youngest of six children, lives in Newcastle, but will stay in Sydney with the Sixers and continue her schooling online.
PERRY EXHIBITION
The challenging run chase provided a Perry exhibition with the superstar smashing a sensational 81 from 38 balls. The brilliant performance included three sixers and 11 fours.
Perry struck the side’s first 19 runs and had an opening partnership of 75 with Hollie Armittage.
With the veteran at the crease, the Sixers were cruising and had the game under control at 2/107 after 10 overs. They were still 3/121 when Perry became Georgia Wareham’s second of three wickets.
Wareham then dismissed Kate Peterson lbw, before catching Sophie Ecclestone to have the Sixers under the pump.
The Sixers have been hard hit by injury and Scottish wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce was among those brought into the line-up.
She made the most of her call up, being unbeaten on 36 runs from 25 balls in the Sixers’ 7/179.
WAREHAM STRIKES OUT
Wareham showed why she was promoted to No. 3 for Australia at the World Cup, smashing 61 off 31 balls and belting four sixes and four fours in the process.
Forced to overcome serious knee injuries, Wareham was out on the final ball of the innings when she holed out on the off side after a mis-hit.
Wareham’s incredible batting enabled the Melbourne side to amass 8/178, with 94 runs scored off the final 10 overs.
The platform for the impressive total was established by a 58-run opening stand in 7.2 overs from Courtney Webb and Emma de Broughe.
Originally published as Sydney Sixers young gun Caoimhe Bray scores winning runs in stunning WBBL debut
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