ON A wet track for cricket, Coomealla Wentworth’s captain Katelin Kemp said she was spurred on by the opposition to an unbeaten batting performance, earning her this week’s Sunraysia Cricket Association Premier Women’s player of the round nomination.
It was going to be a hard act to follow after Nichols Point Green scored 6/133 from their 20 overs, but Kemp said despite the “physically challenging” batting conditions, she focused focused on seeing the match through.
“We knew that there was a very low chance of us making that score. Our aim was to bat out the overs and just have that practice,” she said.
The Blues captain retired not out with 34, as the side finished with 4/75 from 20 overs.
Although the muddy conditions raised the prospect of “coming off” early, Kemp, who had coached junior cricketers and had played Willowfest with members of Nichols Point Green, said she felt encouraged by her opposition to play out the match.
“When we play them, I know even when I’m batting that I have their support. Although they want to get me out, they also like to see me do well,” she said.
“They probably didn’t even bowl to their full strength, and they bowled fantastic.”
Kemp, who kept the first 10 overs of Coomealla Wentworth’s stint on the field, was also strong with the ball, picking up 2/18 from three overs.
But the right arm medium bowler said the standout was pace bowler Jane Cullinan. Kemp said the junior cricketer, who picked up 2/9 from her four overs, was going to be “a fantastic bowler”.
Kemp said the return of coach Sholto Douglas this week would help the side prepare as they looked ahead to their clash with Merbein South.
