Pushed to the limit

Fresh off securing a one-wicket win against New South Wales, the hosts were pushed to the limit by the Sandgropers, who looked set to cause a boil over before Victoria held its nerve at the death.

Having been sent in on a pitch that offered plenty with the new ball, Victoria lost both openers early in its innings before Gippsland’s Sophie Molineux again played a leading role with the bat.

In searing temperatures, Molineux peeled off 48 from 85 balls including five boundaries as she combined with Inner East’s Sarah Chancellor-Goddard for a pivotal 45-run stand.

“Sophie was terrific,” Victorian coach Duncan Harrison said.

“I still thought we were 20 or 30 short…but that was a significant partnership.”

Chancellor-Goddard finished with 27, while Mallee Murray’s Rhiann O’Donnell added 18 to push Victoria’s total to 9-162.

In reply, Western Australia made a flying start before Victoria slowly pegged them back.

Having bowled well against NSW with little reward, O’Donnell was impressive once again as she tore through the middle order with 3-35.

With Molineux and Chancellor-Goddard unable to bowl through injury, Victoria turned to leg-spinners Alana King and Chelsea Moscript and the pair did not let them down.

King claimed 1-27 from 10 overs, while Moscript finished with 2-20 from eight as the pair put the brakes on the Sandgropers’ run chase.

“We bowled pretty well,” Harrison said.

“They got off to a strong start and slowly we reeled them back in.”

Requiring 44 with one wicket in hand, Western Australia was finally dismissed for 147 as Mallee Murray’s Makinley Blows (1-15) struck to ice the contest.

With extreme temperatures forecast once again for today, Victoria’s Twenty20 against the ACT has been brought forward to a 9am start allowing a three hour break before this afternoon’s fixture against Tasmania.

To see a full scorecard from the Under-18 National Championships, click here.