East Metro to face Mallee Murray in Under-18 Final

Madeline Wright, an opening batsman for East Metro will be hoping to bring her form from the round-robin part of the Championships through to the Final.

Wright averaged an impressive 69 and made two half-centuries with a top score of 84.

She also had success with the ball, claiming five wickets at the miserly average of five.

East Metro’s number three, Tansi Price, also had a successful tournament scoring 110 runs at 36.67 with a top score of 45 not out while she also took five wickets at 10.80.

Holly Spencer will be looking to bring her form from the U16 State Championships, held mid-January, through to this Final.

Spencer averaged 39 with the bat for Metro Inner East, scoring most of her runs at three.

East Metro’s star bowler in their last match was Lani Dejong who finished with fantastic career-best figures of seven for eight from eight overs, a spell which included two maidens.

If she can reproduce that form then Mallee Murray may find they have to play defensively and then attack the bowler from the other end.

Mallee Murray also had a standout player in Makinley Blows.

She opened the batting in two matches and was unbeaten, scoring 54 before retiring and then 152.

Blows also bowled 16 overs and picked up a wicket in the tournament but East Metro will be far more concerned about her batting as they look to put an end to her unbeaten knocks.

Wicketkeeper Annabel Martin also had a good Championships with the bat and also performed well with the ball in hand as well.

Martin’s top score came in the fifth round against North East Country as she hit 117 not out off 111 deliveries including 12 fours as they secured a seven-wicket win.

Martin finished the tournament with five wickets at an average of 11, including career-best bowling figures of three for 28 which came in the same match as her unbeaten century.

Right-arm medium-pacer, Rhiann O’Donnell, was part of the successful Victoria U18s squad which won the National Championships in January.

O’Donnell played an integral part in their victory taking nine wickets at 7.78 during the tournament, including two for 14 in the Final.

If she can carry her form through to the Final then East Metro might look to take on Murray’s other opening bowler.