Women’s second grade go down fighting in a nailbiter

South’s decision to bowl quickly paid dividends when they had Wests opener Naiya Varidel run out and number three Isabel Goffage bowled by an inseamer in the third over. Their decision looked even better when Kathleen Mallyon departed in the sixth over with the score at 3/14.

Layla Proctor and Eliza Goffage steadied the ship for several overs until Layla was dismissed for 21.

Eliza, Emma Lockwood and Rebecca McCoombes stoically worked the team through through the middle overs and Sofia Nearhos (6 off 41) and Victoria Lloyd (5 off 17) fought a rearguard action for the tenth wicket to take the total to 9/92.

Souths innings quickly came under pressure in the first eight overs with tight bowling from Eliza and Naiya, and the loss of opener Amanda Carpenter bowled by Naiya without scoring.

Souths bats Melanie Vernyik and Eloise Schabe consolidated their innings, reaching 50 without further loss before Melanie departed off the bowling of Kath Mallyon with the score on 50. Souths reached 74 with the loss of one more wicket (a screamer of a catch by Naiya at mid off from the bowling of Kath ), then lost 6 wickets (two to Eliza and three to Alex Lloyd plus a runout with catches to Kath, Emma and Izzy Goffage) for two runs to be 9/74.

Wests applied plenty of pressure in the remaining overs, but were unable to take the final wicket and Souths passed Wests total with four overs to spare.

So it was another narrow loss, but our young team is improving every week and they showed great character to stay in a tough fight and very nearly defend a low total.

Onward and upward next round against the Gold Coast!

Individual Statistics:

• Layla Proctor 21 (43)
• Eliza Goffage 11 (26) & 2/8 (8)
• Emma Lockwood 11 (37)
• Rebecca McCoombes 10 (32)
• Alex Lloyd 3 /13 (8)
• Kathleen Mallyon 2/26 (4)
• Naiya Varidel 1/22 (7)