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Rockhampton wins Central Qld Cricket’s Women’s Intercity Championship

Rockhampton took the honours in the inaugural Women’s Intercity Championship but victorious skipper Olivia Dean believes female cricketers across the region will be the big winners if the concept expands.

The victorious Rockhampton team (back row, from left) coach Travis Applewaite, Samantha Olive, Meg Lanson, Gabby Macrae, Jodie Kraatz, Sara-Lee Sheen, Erinn Weekers and (front row) Alana Rowe, Laura Jonassen, Addison Solly, Kristen Solly and Olivia Dean.
The victorious Rockhampton team (back row, from left) coach Travis Applewaite, Samantha Olive, Meg Lanson, Gabby Macrae, Jodie Kraatz, Sara-Lee Sheen, Erinn Weekers and (front row) Alana Rowe, Laura Jonassen, Addison Solly, Kristen Solly and Olivia Dean.

Olivia Dean has captained Rockhampton’s first women’s rep cricket team to a monumental victory.

The talented outfit scored a commanding win over Gladstone in Central Queensland Cricket’s inaugural Women’s Intercity Championship played at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground on Saturday night.

Dean said she was proud to be part of the exciting cricket first, hopeful it will be the start of something bigger for the women’s game.

Rockhampton skipper Olivia Dean.
Rockhampton skipper Olivia Dean.

“It’s an honour to be captain, especially being the first Rocky women’s team, and being the inaugural game also made it pretty exciting,” Dean said.

“This puts Central Queensland in a good position moving forward and gives the younger girls coming through a bit more to aspire to.

“Hopefully in seasons to come, we’re able to play a few more games like this.

“It will be good if we can continue to build on the foundations that we started yesterday.”

Rockhampton Cricket has had a women’s competition for several years, while Gladstone launched its first this season.

The Gladstone team that contested the Women's Intercity Championship.
The Gladstone team that contested the Women's Intercity Championship.

Dean said it was great to see more females playing the game and would love to see the intercity concept broadened to take in the Central Highlands and Callide/Dawson areas as well.

For now, Dean and teammates Samantha Olive, Meg Lanson, Gabby Macrae, Jodie Kraatz, Sara-Lee Sheen, Erinn Weekers, Alana Rowe, Laura Jonassen, Addison Solly, Kristen Solly and coach Travis Applewaite are savouring their special victory.

Dean won the toss and opted to bat, keen for her team to get runs on the board.

They delivered, posting a score of 5/138 from its 20 overs.

Gladstone bowler Indiana Franklin organises the field.
Gladstone bowler Indiana Franklin organises the field.

Dean made 28, Samantha Olive top scored with 33 and Meg Lanson blasted an unbeaten 27 from 29 balls.

Gladstone’s skipper Laura Seng was the best with the ball, taking 2/21 off three overs.

Rockhampton’s attack then tore through the opposition, skittling them for 45 in the 14th over.

Opener Kristen Solly bagged three wickets, as did Alana Rowe.

Dean said all of the bowling attack delivered, bowling full and straight which resulted in five of the Gladstone batters being trapped lbw.

“It was a good win and we executed our plan well,” she said.

Rockhampton’s opening batters Olivia Dean and Gabby Macrae stride to the wicket.
Rockhampton’s opening batters Olivia Dean and Gabby Macrae stride to the wicket.

“Our top four batters put us in a good position for the last 10 overs and then our bowlers ripped through them pretty quickly.”

Dean, 28, explained how the introduction of the women’s competition in Rockhampton revived her cricket career after a lengthy spell out of the game.

“I played cricket when I was a junior and I was always the only girl in the team,” she said.

“The reason I stopped playing was because the next step up was playing with the men when I was 16 which I wasn’t keen to do so I stopped until the women’s comp got up and running here.

“We’ve got a good balance in the clubs; there’s some older girls who maybe haven’t had the opportunity to play women’s cricket and a few really strong juniors coming through.

“Hopefully, we can continue to build numbers in our comp, make it a bit stronger, so women can take the step up to the next level.”

Originally published as Rockhampton wins Central Qld Cricket’s Women’s Intercity Championship

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/rockhampton/sport/rockhampton-wins-central-qld-crickets-womens-intercity-championship/news-story/95ac3b5e06c108602207bbd51434d6fd