Having finished runners-up in the last two Western NSW Under-15 Girls’ Carnivals Western Zone took an emphatic step towards going one better in this year’s third edition, scoring a comprehensive first-up win over Penrith on Monday’s opening day of the tournament.
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In the first of this week’s games at Molong’s Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground, Western needed just over three hours to knock off their western Sydney-based rivals, winning by seven wickets in the end.
Western Zone strangled Penrith, not allowing any of the visitors’ batters to crack double figures and eventually bowling them out for 25 in 14 of the available 50 overs, then passing that total three down with 34 overs in the bank.
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Western’s Invitational XI was on the either side of the ledger in their competition-opener however, going down to Gordon Red at Kinross Main Oval.
Only Niamh McPhee cracked double figures for the Invitational XI with her 14-ball dig of 17, her side was bowled out for 52.
Elle Chun (3-5) and Anna Wilson-Brown were the best of Gordon’s bowlers in taking three wickets apiece, before Sara Chun (14 not out), Emma Ridley (10) and Ciara Gibson (7 not out) spurred their side to victory with nine wickets in hand.
In Monday’s other girls’ game two-time defending champions ACT kicked off their bid for a three-peat in style, defeating Gordon Blue at Kinross’ John Sharpe Oval.
Led by a five-wicket haul from Charlee Purvis, who took 5-4 from 4.4 overs, ACT bowled Gordon out for 79 before successfully chasing with eight wickets in hand, Clare Levings top scoring with 31.
Despite posting a somewhat meagre 117 at Jack Brabham 4 Dubbo picked up a first-up win in the boys’ carnival, the Macquarie Valley-based side producing a stunning effort in the field to secure a backs-to-the-wall victory.
Only Ryan Maxwell (26) and Brad Deveigne (27) made any real inroads for Dubbo as Kai Callaway (4-12) starred with the ball for ACT, before a number of mix-ups between the wickets crushed the the chasing side’s hopes.
The game was in the balance with ACT Yellow sitting 4-51 in reply, before they slumped to 8-62 after four consecutive run outs, with Maxwell in the thick of the action.
He had a hand in three of those wickets and incredibly Deveigne was responsible for the other. Lawson Shepherd (3-10) was Dubbo’s best with the ball, with the ACT eventually succumbing for just 85.
In Monday’s other boys’ game two-time defending champions Blacktown (203) were bested by Wagga Wagga (7-217), the latter side’s Ryley Cowan starring with 83 from 138 balls.
Led by Cooper Brien’s unbeaten 79 Mitchell, considered the hosts, knocked off Mosman’s 8-141 with seven wickets and 12 overs in hand, while North West Sydney, ACT Blue and Penrith also scored round one wins.
On Tuesday’s second day games start at 9am while due to the extreme heat forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, the start times have been moved to 8am in a bid to avoid the sweltering conditions as much as possible.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
