East Metro and Mallee Murray to meet in U18 State Final at the MCG

East Metro finished unbeaten at the top of the ladder in the VicSpirit U18 Female State Championships. Mallee Murray took the other final spot after wining three out of four games and finishing ahead of third placed Northern Rivers on run rate.

East Metro faced Central Highlands in their final fixture and restricted them to 106 all out after 35 overs. This low total was thanks to a fantastic spell of bowling by Lani Dejong who finished with her career best bowling figures of seven wickets for just eight runs from her eight overs. In reply, East Metro lost an early wicket as Sophie Van De Heuvel had Zoe Griffiths trapped lbw for five with the score on 12. A match-winning partnership of 95 then ensued between captain Madeline Wright and Tess Flintoff. East Metro went on to bat out their overs which saw Wright top score with 84, Tansi Price finish on an unbeaten 45 off 34 and Flintoff made 44.

Mallee Murray played North East Country in the fourth match of the Championships and after losing the toss were asked to field first. It was North East Country’s Claire Wilson who finished unbeaten on 87 and held the batting together as wickets fell regularly to ensure the side posted a competitive total of 9-189. Wicketkeeper turned bowler Annabel Martin took three wickets for 28 runs and then led with the bat in Murray’s chase.  Shania McKinnon joined Martin at the crease when the score was 48-3 and the pair batted well together as they secured a seven-wicket win and a place in the final which will be held at the MCG in February. Mallee Murray batted through their overs which enabled Martin to score an unbeaten 117 off 111 deliveries which included 12 fours and McKinnon made 74.

Following a tight win in the previous round, Northern Rivers played South East Country in their last match of the tournament. Having won the toss and electing to bat, Hope Irvine and Tegaan Brett shared an opening stand of 102 before Irvine was bowled for 49. Brett was then part of a second 100-run plus stand this time with Paris Rafferty before she was stumped for 71 with the score on 221. P Rafferty was dismissed for 55 with the score on 221 and Northern Rivers then added four more runs as they posted an impressive total of 4-225. South East Country were not able to form the same successful partnerships and it was Samantha Ryan who made 57 which saw them come close to their target before they were all out for 211 in the 37^th over which meant they lost by the slim-margin of 14 runs.

Gippsland Pride faced South East Metro in their last match of the Championships and were put in to bat. An Early wicket from Isabella Weber and then two from Erika Quinn saw Gippsland three down for 44. A fourth-wicket partnership of fifty between Lauren Gooden and Taylah Kilpatrick then ensued before Gooden was bowled after reaching her half-century. Small partnerships saw Gippsland finish on 156 all out in the 35^th over. Weber was the pick of the bowlers as she cleaned up the tail and finished with four wickets for 26 runs.  After losing a wicket with just one run on the board South East Metro then saw a 50-run partnership ensue as Annabel Sutherland and Weber batted together. After Sutherland was dismissed for 33 with the score on 54 a batting collapse occurred as South East Metro were all out for 97 after 25 overs. Miranda Knight and Gooden were the pick of the bowlers for Gippsland Pride as they each took two wickets and secured a 59-run win for their side.

North Metro won the toss and elected to bat against Western Waves in their final match of the Championships. Some tight fielding and good bowling saw them dismissed for 125 after 37 overs. Alice Johnson and Anna Habel were the pick of the bowlers taking three each for 18 runs. Habel also had a good day with the bat as she made 34 and helped secure the Western Waves’ first win. They continued their innings till the 23^rd over when Claire Nolte was on 43 and the score was 3-137.

Well done to all players and coaches in the success of the Championships and good luck to East Metro and Mallee Murray who will play for the title on Sunday 7^th February at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.