Our first grade women’s team chalked up two twos in two days in the semi-final and final of the Katherine Raymont Shield T20 comp to take the premiership.
The wins capped an unbeaten run to the silverware and capped a remarkable series of 11 straight victories broken only by one washed-out draw last weekend.
Grace Harris led the charge with the bat with big centuries in both the semi and the final with able support from Annie Wikman in both games. Honours were shared amongst the bowlers with wickets and great performances all round.
In the semi-final against Sandgate-Redcliffe on Saturday, Wests opened proceedings with the bat. Grace Harris and captain Annie Wikman put on 215 for the first wicket before Annie was dismissed for 68 off just 50 deliveries. Grace had earlier reached her century after leaping from the blocks quickly with a six from just the second delivery she faced. She finished on 144 from 64 balls after hitting 11 fours and 12 sixes.
Having posted a massive 5/233 from their 20 overs, victory should have felt like it was in the bag at that point, but the presence of Australian opened Beth Mooney in the Sandgate-Redcliffe batting line-up suggested that chickens shouldn’t be counted to early. And so it proved with Beth stacking on a majestic undefeated 121 from only 59 balls to pull the gators within striking distance.
A determined bowling and fielding effort by the Wests girls limited Sandgate-Redcliffe to 5/205 though with a bowling honours being shared by Courtney Sippel with two wickets and one wicket each to Grace Harris, Ashleigh Sims and Meagan Dixon.
The win put the girls into the final which was played on Sunday afternoon against the Gold Coast Dolphins. The Gold Coast won the toss and put Wests in to bat.
The innings began steadily this time with just two runs scored of the first over. Wests had compiled 15 runs when Australian bowler Delissa Kimmince took the ball in the fourth over. Annie Wikman struck the first boundary in the second over and Grace waited until the fifth over before unleashing her first six. The floodgates opened thereafter and the girls stacked on 139 before Annie departed and Courtney Sippel joined grace at the crease. They took the score to 192 before Courtney was dismissed and Meagan Dixon entered for a quickfire cameo of 11 off five deliveries. Grace was dismissed of a top-edged slog-sweep on the final ball of the innings for a magnificent 136 from 71 deliveries.
Holly Ferling struck early in the Dolphins inning removing Tammy Wheeler and captain Carly Fuller to put them on the back foot. When Georgia Redmayne departed at the hands of Meagan Dixon, ending her innings of a rapid-fire 50 from 25 balls. With the Gold Coast score on just 68, Wests suddenly looked like they were in the hunt. And so it proved with another five wickets falling in quick succession, including three to Grace Harris. When Meagan Dixon captured the wicket of Georgia Parsons with the score on 82, Wests were flying.
The Gold Coast innings closed on 9/112, giving Wests a 98-run victory and the premiership.
Congratulations on a fantastic premiership win, girls!
Key player stats – Semi final vs Sandgate-Redcliffe:
- Grace Harris 144 (64) & 1/32 (4)
- Annie Wikman 68 (50)
- Courtney Sippel 2/49 (4)
- Ashleigh Sims 1/38 (4)
- Meagan Dixon 1/46 (4)
Key player stats – Final vs Gold Coast:
- Grace Harris 136 (71) & 3/9 (4)
- Annie Wikman 38 (33)
- Holly Ferling 2/17 (4)
- Meagan Dixon 11no (5) 2/23 (4)
- Courtney Sippel 1/25 (4)
- Ashleigh Sims 1/31 (4)
