Scorecard – Match Details | NSW Youth Championships (nswyc.com.au)
Under 15 Girls – Margaret Peden Shield
Manly-Warringah v Bankstown-Camden
Venue: Kirkham Oval
Bankstown-Camden: 10/76 off 33.3 overs (Charlotte Croll 2/11 off 6, Lara Hughes 2/15 off 8, Olivia Champion 2/5 off 2.3, Sophia Chick 1/5 off 4)
Defeated by
Manly-Warringah: 0/77 off 11.2 overs (Charlotte Croll 27no, Hannah Moss 27no)
The Peden squad departed the Northern Beaches with a sense of optimism under sunny skies. The TIE from round one was a frustrating outcome but the signs were good for following weeks. Our optimism diminished somewhat on arrival with the only cloud in Sydney sitting over Kirkham Oval with very little shelter available and a toilet block that looked functional from a distance (think North Korean architecture) but was no use to us locked.
Our warm up was therefore disrupted with half the squad being whisked to the nearby McDonalds for relief. Unfortunately the umpires did not allow us any extra time to prepare but there was time to present Charlotte Allen her baggy blue having formally joined the team for the rest of the season. Congratulations Charlotte!
Our girls won the toss and chose to bowl.
The Bankstown-Camden innings began watchfully with a damp outfield and tight fielding keeping the scoring rate relatively modest.
With the bowling change in the 5th over the momentum of the game swung in Manly’s favour with tight bowling and excellent fielding helping to keep the opposition under pressure. The run rate peaked in the early overs and trended down into the end of the innings in the 33rd over. Darcey and Isabella had done their job as openers with the former intimidating with line and length with the latter worrying the batters with pace. Charlotte C came on as first change and took wickets in her first and second overs. These wickets were also the start of a significant involvement on the day for Sophie Lowry. Despite not bowling (injury) or batting she set a very high standard in the field taking 3 catches (the first being a very sharp chance in slip) and creating a runout with a brilliant throw. Charlotte A, Jaime, Charlotte C and Hannah as keeper also played roles in runouts that was part of an impressive overall fielding display.
The bowlers through the middle overs were economical and menacing with Lara getting through a lot of work (8 overs) and well timed changes from the captains bringing Olivia, Daisy, Saoirse and Sophia on for impressive spells. Olivia was particularly efficient at cleaning up the tail.
The girls handled the disruption of the warm up and subsequent rain delays well … the parents and coaches less so. Thankfully there were no (reported) injuries sustained during the various times the covers were put down and removed from the square.
Rain clouds continued to circle the area. There was a quiet confidence between the coaches that the total was achievable. Indeed the hope was that Manly could achieve a victory within 24 overs to achieve a bonus point. A win would require execution but it felt as though the weather would be the main hurdle in achieving a victory. Sure enough early in the innings the umpires guided the players from the field. The rain had stopped before the umpires were able to reach the cookie jar and thankfully the weather played no further part in the event.
Hannah and Charlotte C started the innings confidently and looked comfortable from the outset. Both girls are naturally aggressive scorers but it became clear early that they would need to work hard for their runs. Indeed there were no boundaries scored in either innings on the day. This was not a result of poor shot making on behalf of either team but rather a wet and thick outfield that did not give value for good cricket shots. Both girls played with sensibility and style but it was Hannah’s determination running between wickets that stood out consistently turning singles into two’s … scoring at the rate they did without any 3’s or 4’s in the innings was terrific to watch. Well done on an opening partnership of 77 runs.
The win puts the Peden team into second place with some tough competition ahead of us in weeks ahead. Confidence is building into round three and the road trip to Canberra the following week.
