THE future looks bright for Sunraysia’s next generation of female cricketers.
Sunraysia dominated this week’s Western Victoria Under 16 Girls Shield campaign undefeated, culminating in a six-wicket grand final win against Geelong in Thursday’s grand final in Hamilton.
Mildura Settlers’ Abbey Aldridge played a huge role in the final taking 3/11 from her four overs before scoring 28 not out during the successful run chase.
It was an outstanding display from a team featuring players as young as 13 years old.
Irymple’s Maya McGregor and Nichols Point’s Makenzie Holy both also took wickets as Geelong finished their 20 overs at 6/73, while Gol Gol’s Megan and Abby Collihole made 15 and 12 runs respectively as Sunraysia won with 16 balls to spare.
McGregor was equal top of the wicket-taking leader board with nine scalps for the tournament alongside Warrnambool’s Jessica Walsh, while Aldridge was second in overall runs for the week with 170 at a competition-best average of 56.67.
Aldridge scored 37 and took two wickets in the opening win over Colac, with McGregor (3/7) and Mildura East’s Taya Higgins (2/7) impressing with the ball.
Next up was a strong win over Warrnambool led by Aldridge (36 not out), Abby Collihole (25), McGregor (3/12), Holy (2/4) and Point’s Bronte Fryar (2/9).
Higgins and Settlers’ Airlei Taylor each took two wickets to take down Hamilton, Megan Collihole (28) and Holy (15) batted well in the victory over Ballarat, and Aldridge (39 and 2/13), Higgings (2/24) and Settlers’ Ella Dingwall (19) played important roles in the final qualifying victory over Castlemaine.
– Mitch Rodd
