THE two best teams from across the season in the Sunraysia Cricket Association Women’s competition will go head-to-head for premiership honours on Friday.
Minor premiers Mildura Settlers will host defending champions Mildura West at Mildura Senior College in a contest that could go down to the wire.
The teams have split the points going head-to-head this season, West taking the honours by five wickets in a run-heavy contest back in round 1, before Setts returned the favour in round 11 with a 48-run victory.
Settlers showed some great form to secure a 56-run victory over Nichols Point Gold in last week’s semi-final, while reigning champions West came up trumps with some miserly bowling late to win by just four runs against Coomealla Wentworth.
The home side have won 12 matches in a row and while the majority of their wins have come from establishing a strong scoreboard advantage batting first, they have been equally adept at chasing totals, never losing more than two wickets in their five successful run chases.
The Settlers’ top order is one of the strongest in the league, headlined by competition runs leader and captain Shania McKinnon (491 runs), opening partner Sarah Telfer (third with 427) and Ella Dingwall (216).
Telfer has also been impressive with the ball claiming 13 wickets, Jess de Tarczynski has 12 after another three scalps last week, McKinnon nine and Dingwall seven.
Abbey Aldridge has also put together a solid all-round campaign.
McKinnon said her side are a mixture of nerves and excitement.
“As the season has gone on the girls have exceeded their own goals and expectations,” she said.
“We have a lot of vital bowlers and batters in the side and some really good young talent coming through as well.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we’re up for the competition and we’ll back ourselves and just focus on what we can do with our own game.
For West, Tara Martin has been a standout all season with 346 runs, alongside 11 wickets to put her right in the frame for the Women’s MVP.
Demi Zanoni has also been a gun all-rounder with 12 wickets and 229 runs, Addison Bell is the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 16 scalps, co-captain Breanna Smith is second for runs at the club with 245 and has eight wickets, while Lorriane Lowerson and Sesha Achillingham have also put together some strong performances.
Zanoni said the feeling of last year’s premiership has been driving the group again.
“Everyone is really keen, obviously most of us were involved last year and hoping to go back-to-back,” she said.
“Both games were pretty close early before they spread out a bit, but Setts are a strong side and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We really enjoyed the feeling of winning last year so we have been keen to try and get the same result.
“It should be a pretty even contest but hopefully we come out on top.”
The SCA Women’s final begins from 5.30pm on Friday at Mildura Senior College.
