Phoebe Litchfield made a promising start to her Women's National Cricket League career at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval on Sunday, helping Tahlia Wilson inspire a six-wicket, season-opening win over South Australia.
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At just 16 years old Litchfield knocked up 18 from 24 balls in a 39-run, fourth-wicket stand with opening bat Wilson, who finished unbeaten on 95 as NSW won with five balls to spare.
Hayley Silver-Holmes, also 16, earned her first cap alongside Litchfield on Sunday, the pair becoming the second and third youngest debutantes in Breakers' history behind Rachel Trenaman, who made her's at 15 a few years ago.
It was pretty surreal... I came into the season not expecting anything.
- NSW Breakers' Phoebe Litchfield
Chasing the Scorpions' 195 in a rain-affected clash, NSW needed 50 from 69 balls when Litchfield joined Wilson, who's dig came from 111 balls, at the crease and contributed vital runs under plenty of pressure.
She proved the perfect foil for Wilson, three years her senior and only in her third game, before being run out by Bridget Patterson with 11 runs still to get.
Wilson and experienced campaigner Rene Farrell (6 not out) duly knocked those off with five balls to spare, securing a special win for the young, new-look Breakers.
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"It was pretty surreal, to be honest," Litchfield said, she was presented her baggy blue by Cricket NSW life member and legend Kerry Marshall.
"I came into the season not expecting anything at all so it was pretty amazing to get picked for the first game, and to get the win too.
"I went alright, I was a bit nervous at the start but I hit them alright. The standard is very, very high as you'd expect, you don't get as much as a batter. I would have loved to be there at the end, but the run out was my fault, I came back for two and just misjudged it.
"It was a great experience to bat with Tahlia too, her innings was amazing and it was pretty cool to be out there with her."
Litchfield's effort came after Naomi Stalenberg (42 from 43) and Wilson added 86 for the second wicket after Bathurst's Lisa Griffith was dismissed first ball, and Trenaman (24 from 33) added crucial runs too.
The Breakers were chasing a Scorpions' tally that came from 37 overs after rain hit early in the day, with Patterson (78 not out from 98) and Talia McGrath (59 from 66) did the bulk of the damage.
They put on 101 for the first wicket to rocket their South Australian side into the box seat, before Silver-Holmes (1-19) broke the partnership.
Trenaman (2-16) and Farrell (2-37) then led the Breakers' fightback, bowling their side back into the clash, with Tegan McPharlin (18) the only other Scorpion to make any sort of headway.
Litchfield's Breakers face Victoria in their second game of the tournament on Tuesday. The final XI will be named on the morning.
"I'll be keeping my fingers crossed, but I'm still not expecting anything at all," Litchfield said.
The Vics were beaten by the ACT Meteors in Sunday's opening round while in the other game Western Australia knocked off Tasmania.
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