Wests girls capture the Paul Pink Shield!

They won!

Big congratulation to West’s Premier Youth Girls team for taking out the Paul Pink Shield T20 final on January 25 in magnificent style.

The girls put on 4/134 in their 20 overs, then over-ran the previously undefeated Wynnum-Manly team, bowling them out for 47 runs in 10 overs for an 87-run victory.

Openers Eliza Goffage and captain Naiya Varidel combined for an unbeaten 115-run opening stand which ended only when Eliza retired not out with 42 off 44 balls in the 16th over.  Naiya Varidel posted her third half-century of the competition, and finished with 54 off 57 balls when she retired not out in the 18th over.  The girls scrambled for quick runs in the final overs against tightening Wynnum-Manly bowling, losing the wickets of Olivia Hartland (6 off 8 balls), Zaara Dancu (out to a very sharp low catch in close off an on-drive without scoring), Isabel Goffage (run out for 5 off 8 balls), Erin Moran (run out on her second ball) and Emma Lockwood who watched the mayhem from the non-striker’s end and was not out without facing a ball.

Wests bowling innings began sharply with Emma Lockwood drawing a false shot from batsman Gabby Doble who spooned a catch to Naiya Varidel at short cover. The second and third wickets fell in Hannah Page’s second over with Rory Jones caught behind by the keeper Sofia Nearhos, and Gaby Lockwood being run out by Erin Moran’s great fielding in combination with Sofia.  Olivia Hartland bowled dangerous batsman and Wynnum-Manly captain Holly Barr for 15 off 13 balls in the fifth over with the score on 33.  Holly had previously plundered three half centuries in the competition including 94 off 45 deliveries against Valleys.  With the score at 4/33, Wynnum-Manly were in deep trouble, and their innings unravelled quickly with another wicket to Olivia Hartland with a very sharp low catch by Naiya Varidel at short cover, Sarah Kelso taking out the stumps of one batsman and catching another LBW, and Zaara Dancu taking the final wicket LBW at the end of the tenth over for an 87-run win.

Olivia Hartland finished with figures of 2/7 (2ov), Sarah Kelso 2/2 (1ov), Zaara Dancu 1/3 (1ov), Emma Lockwood 1/13 (2ov) and Hannah Page 1/18 (4ov).

The win capped off a great season for the team with wins in all of their games. There were great individual results as well with Olivia Hartland being the second highest-performing bowler in the competition (of 92 players) with 7 wickets at an average of 4.43 and best match figures of 3/8, and Naiya Varidel racking up the highest run total in the comp with 272 runs in six innings at an average of 90.67 with three half centuries and a high score of 77no  Eliza Goffage finished with the third highest run total in the comp with 131 runs from 6 innings, a high score of 42no and an average of 32.75.  Eliza backed up her batting as the fifth highest wicket taker in the comp with 6 wickets at 11.67 and best match figures of 3/14.

Thanks to coach George Seaward who did a great job over several months of training while simultaneously coaching West’s Lords Taverners team to their own final. George’s efforts took the girl’s match play to the next level, and the result was magnificent!

Great work also to the girls captain Naiya Varidel who led from the front and implemented the team’s game plans in great style on the field. Well done also to the senior players Olivia Hartland and Eliza Goffage who provided great leadership support throughout the competition.

Fantastic effort, girls!  Congratulations on taking out the Premier Girls Youth premiership and winning the Paul Pink Shield for 2018-19!