Wests’ Paul Pink Shield girls put on a batting masterclass then followed up with a super sharp performance in the field to take out their semi over the Sunshine Coast at Chelmer Sport Ground last night.
The 56-run T20 win puts them into the final for the third time in four years.
With the late news that strike fast bowler and middle order bat Holly Walker would miss the game due to a finger injury, the situation quickly tightened with the shock loss of gun opening bat and captain Isabel Goffage from the first ball of the innings. First drop Scarlett Varidel strode to the wicket with orders to settle things down, but the loss of opener Tanvi Aiyar in the third over shortly afterwards had the innings precariously placed at 2/19. Lilli Hamilton joined Scarlett in the middle and the duo proceeded to bat beautifully for a chanceless 102-run partnership until Lilli was dismissed for 56 of 48 balls in the 17th over. Scarlett and Lacey Kennedy pushed the score to 144 in the final over until Scarlett was run out trying for a tight second run in the last over. The girls finished with a very competitive 146 runs from their 20 overs.
The girls performance with the ball was if anything even better than their batting. The bowling was tight and the fielding was extremely sharp. Five of the eight wickets taken were runouts, including three of the Sunshine Coast’s top four bats. All of the runouts resulted from slick fielding – a direct result of the many hours of fielding drills the girls have been working on in training over the past 6 months!
Deepika Bogahawatta tied the opposition bats in knots with her leg spin and took two wickets from her four overs. Lilli Hamilton backed up her half ton with the bat with a wicket and four tight overs with the ball.
Coach George Seaward awarded the player of the match to wicketkeeper-batsman Scarlett for her fine effort anchoring the batting innings and sharp keeping work (which included a spectacular spin-and-throw runout after chasing the ball from behind the stumps to leg gully).
Congratulations on a great team win girls, and well done on making the final!
The girls will play the Paul Pink Shield final next Friday January 29 against Souths.
Key individual stats:
- Lilli Hamilton 56 (48) & 1/17 (4)
- Scarlett Varidel 41 (43)
- Lacey Kennedy 11no (12)
- Deepika Bogahawatta 2/11 (4)
Newly minted offie Olivia Totten reaches for the sky. 
Lilli Hamilton cuts on her way to 56 off 48 balls. 
Nicolene Snyman reels a thunderbolt down range. 
Mia Baker locked on target! 
Opening quick Sophie Martin on final approach… 
Keeper Scarlett Varidel secures a wide ball on the fly. 
Tanvi Aiyar shapes up to unleash. 
Deepika Bogahawatta took two wickets in her Paul Pink Shield debut.
