Female B Grade – Semi Final
Remiss of the author not to have written up the last couple of games, but with COVID closing in around us the priority was keeping everyone safe and making sure we could get our teams onto the park.
Our B Grade semi-final against Melville was played at Kingsway, and the team really hit its straps in this game, in what would prove to be a great warm up for the Grand Final.
Batting first, the Roos lost Meg early and were in a spot of bother thereafter, moving from 1/5 to 2/21, 3/22 and then 4/36. Not the best of starts to be fair, but Shenae and Talia combined for a middle order partnership to remember, notching 87 vital runs for the home team. Talia’s 36 off 57 offered excellent support to Shenae, who had built a strong platform from the start of the innings. Kristin’s quickfire 22 off 33 gave the score a nice nudge, while Shenae continued on her merry way, ending with 81 off 102. Sarah joined Kristin for the last few overs with nothing to lose, contributing valuable extra runs to see the Roos finish with an imposing 6/177.
To their credit, Melville were away fairly well, reaching 25 before Shenae (2/22) struck and pushing past 50 before she struck again. As she has done so often this season, Ella (2/25) came into the attack and brought immediate results, with two wickets falling in the 70’s. But it was in the 80’s that the Roos did most of the damage – first a direct hit run out from Sarah, an LBW to Kristin and then another run out, this time Ella combining with Shayna, before Kristin (2/26) picked up another to see the score sitting at 8/87.
Some tail end resistance ensued before Emma (1/15) and Emilie (1/23) both picked up a wicket to see Melville all out for 118 and the Roos were on their way to the big dance.
Female Youth League – Round 5
This match was played at the neutral venue of Fletcher Park, against Melville, with both sides knowing that they had already pre-qualified for the 40-40 Grand Final the following week.
Probably fair to say that the result in this game was something that no-one saw coming – Melville bundled out for 23 after winning the toss and batting. The young Roos were all over it in terms of line and length. Chloe claimed 1/0, bowling four maidens in a row to start the innings. Aymie (2/11) was her accurate and consistent self, picking up two wickets at the other end in the same period, to see Melville shaky at 3/7.
Cue the entry of Talia into the attack and a devastating spell unfolded. Tahls claimed the next five wickets – three bowled and two LBWs – on her way to an incredible 5/6 off just 3 overs! She bowled with pace and rhythm and quite simply ripped the game apart. Hasty phone calls were made to update the trophy order that had gone in last week!
Erin came into the attack and offered just what was needed – a tidy spell, targeting the stumps. She collected 2/6, with excellent catches being taken by Shayna and Layla to close out the innings – way to go Roos!
Wanneroo ran the total down without too many issues, passing it one down in six overs, to finish on the top of the table after a great 40 over season in which they did not drop a single game.
Female Youth League – Grand Final
So to Kingsway 2 on Sunday 13 March for the decider between Melville and Wanneroo. The crowd was in for a treat in a game that was entirely worthy of a Grand Final between two proud Clubs.
Winning the toss and batting, the home side didn’t have the best of starts. 1/8 became 2/9 which became 3/13. Talia (9) and Soph (27) then combined to steady the ship, with a 29 run partnership that turned out to be the best of the day in a low scoring affair. Myla (14) showed her usual enthusiasm and courage and played a great hand. Big moments for all three of our U/14 players turning out for the U/17 Grand Final, with Abbie and Polly both getting to bat in the pressure cooker situation of this match.
Wanneroo’s final score of 84 was going to take some defending, and everyone knew it!
As she has done so often this year, Aymie provided the answers with the ball – picking up both openers to see Melville teetering at 2/8. The first of these came from an amazing running catch, dive and roll at fine leg by Chloe, who not only did well to make ground but also to hold onto the ball as she fell – wow! The second wicket came next ball as Aymie sent another of her dipping deliveries into the base of the stumps.
When Aymie grabbed a third pole with the score at 3/20, with a high chance easily pouched by Tene, surely everyone dared to dream a little.
The ever-reliable Talia (2/6) came into the attack with almost immediate results, picking up two cleaned rippeds, before Erin (1/7) snuck one behind the batter to also hit the stumps. The score built from 6/49 into the 70’s, but to their credit, the Roos never gave up – they chased down everything in the field and kept chirping even when things looked dire. The home side really needed a wicket, and it was a bit of ‘Myla Magic’ that did it – with a great pick up and throw from mid-wicket to the bowlers end catching the batters off guard (and Mathilda doing well to gather and release the ball quickly into the stumps) it was 7/61 and game on.
Melville eeked their way through the 60’s and into the 70’s, as the required runs dipped into single figures. Was the dream slipping away? Skipper Tene kept the bowling rotations coming and wouldn’t you know it, two in two balls from Aymie (including an outstanding catch from Talia in close) broke the game open. All that remained was for Chloe (1/21) to hit the base of the stumps next over and that was that. Enormous relief and celebration!! Melville all out for 76 in a closely fought game that had everyone on the edge of their seats!
Aymie’s clinical 5/16 quite rightly earned her the Player of the Match from the umpires as the young Roos celebrated the first female cricket flag for WDCC.
Female B Grade – Grand Final
Simultaneously over on Kingsway 1, Wanneroo won the toss against Midland-Guildford and chose to bat first in the B Grade Grand Final. First year in the competition for our ladies and safe to say there would have been a few nerves amongst them. Things settled quickly though with Shenae and Meg getting the home team away to a flyer. Both played careful, watchful innings, dispatching loose balls as they came along and building a steady total. Meg’s 33 and Shenae’s 51 built a platform that was intended to put the game beyond the reach of the opposition.
Midland came back strongly though, seeing the score move from 1/78 to 4/104. Thankfully Shayna and Kristin combined nicely in the middle of the innings for a 50 run partnership just when the home team needed a boost. Kristin’s 13 off 33 complemented Shayna’s run-a-ball 42* in a great demonstration of the Wanneroo Way! The final total of 6/161 looked worth its weight in gold.
With spectators between the two grounds wishing they’d brought swivel chairs, it didn’t take the Roos long to get into it with the ball. A huge wicket with the score on 0 came about after Shenae and Shayna combined for a run out to get the home side away nicely.
A small period of consolidation followed from Midland, before Josie (1/19) sent a catch Shenae’s way, and then Shenae (1/16) got one through the batter’s defences – 3/27. Another small fightback ensued before Josie gave Shayna her second run out of the day, followed by Bree (1/5) picking up the new batter first ball to see Midland on the ropes at 5/60.
What happened next was testament to how well this side operates as a team. Shayna picked up a direct hit run out (that was three), Emilie hit the stumps, Emma took a clean catch from the bowling of Kristin (1/6) and then Josie and Shayna combined for their second run out of the day (and Shayna’s fourth – wow!!). 5/60 was suddenly 9/69, with contributions from across the Roos outfit. When Emilie (2/5) hit the stumps again, it was all over. A comprehensive win for the Roos, with Midland-Guildford all out for 74 and Shenae Reichelt named Player of the Match (and what a run of form she has had to close out the season).
Two flags to add to the wall at WDCC on a day that no one will forget in a hurry. Well done you Roos!!