Big partnership from Clarence stars paves way for Roos to claim Kookaburra Cup crown

A day after the Clarence men leapfrogged into the CTPL semi-finals, the women have continued the momentum by defeating Greater Northern in the Kookaburra Cup final.

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CLARENCE’S big name players stood tall when it counted as the Roos picked up the final piece of silverware for the 2020-21 women’s CTPL season.

A dominant partnership from star opener Hollie Armitage and young gun Erin Fazackerley paved the way for the Roos to claim the Kookaburra Cup title against Greater Northern at Kangaroo Bay.

Armitage cracked her third century of the season (101) to finish as the leading run scorer while Fazackerley — who plundered an unbeaten 195 last weekend — fell five runs short of back to back centuries.

However their 197-run stand for the third wicket steadied the innings after the hosts lost Maddison Brooks and state player Heather Graham (run out for a duck) in the space of seven balls.

Clarence celebrates winning the women's CTPL Kookaburra Cup final over Greatern Northern Raiders. Picture: Linda Higginson

Fazackerley blasted 12 boundaries and a six in her 103-ball knock and looked set to reach triple figures before she chipped a return catch back to Sasha Moloney (3-34).

Armitage brought up three figures shortly after before also falling to Moloney, who helped limit the late damage as the Roos reached 7-259.

The Raiders needed their stars Moloney and Emma Manix-Geeves to return fire in the chase but both fell after getting into the teens.

It left too much for the young group to do, and they were eventually bundled out for 188.

“When you lose a couple of early wickets you have to steady the ship a little bit and it was really good batting with Erin, who has also got a really steady head and also hits the ball really cleanly,” player of the match Armitage said.

“Batting with her was really good … we were both just setting little targets for us to meet and we were happy to put a good partnership together for the team.

“It is a big achievement for me, but more importantly the team has come off with a win.”

Clarence opener Hollie Armitage was named player of the match for her century in the women's CTPL Kookaburra Cup final. Picture: Linda Higginson

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