Both first and second grade were in action on September 29 with the firsts playing two T20s and the seconds playing their opening game of the season.
First Grade
Our first grade team was bolstered for this weekend’s rounds by the return of our Queensland First representative players. The team played two T20 games in one day, and came away with two wins, keeping their unbeaten record for the season intact. Wests played both games with only 10 players due to two last-minute player withdrawals due to sickness.
Game 1 vs Gold Coast
The first game against the Gold Coast was dominated by a massive 175-run opening stand between Grace Harris and Kirby Short before Grace was eventually caught for 114 off 59 deliveries. Grace’s innings was typically spectacular, featuring fifteen boundaries including six sixes. Kirby made a rapid 63 off 49 and Courtney Sippel chimed in at the death with a cameo 9 off 6 deliveries to take Wests total to 1/193.
Wests successfully defended that total with the Gold Coast making 6/133 in response, giving the girls a 60-run victory. Courtney Sippel led the bowling with three wickets.
Key individual statistics – Game 1 vs Gold Coast:
- Grace Harris 114 (71) and 1/18 (4)
- Kirby Short 63no (50)
- Courtney Sippel 3/21 (4)
- Lauren Hume 1/29 (4)
- Ashleigh Sims 1/39 (4)
Game 2 vs UQ
The second first grade game of the day against Uni was a very different affair with the involvement of some of the Queensland Fire players being restricted due to workload management constraints. The game was a much tighter, lower scoring, affair which was similar in nature to the girl’s tough wins in the first two rounds of the competition.
Wests batted first again, and Grace Harris brought up her half century before being bowled by Haidee Birkett for 59 off 37. Megan Dixon each contributed with a run-a-ball 13 each, and several other players chipped to reach the final total of 6/120.
UQ started well and were cruising at 5/113, requiring just 8 runs to win with 9 balls remaining, but lost 4 wickets in the next five balls to Lauren Hume and Ash Sims without adding to their total. The finished with 9/118, and Wests had clinched another tight victory. It’s their third win by less than five runs of the four games they’ve played so far this season.
Key individual statistics Game 2 vs UQ:
- Grace Harris 57 (37)
- Meagan Dixon 13 (14)
- Ashleigh Sims 13no (13) and 4/17 (4)
- Lauren Hume 3/38 (4)
- Courtney Sippel 1/16 (4)
Fielders on the move… 
Wests first grade team leaves the field after a taking out a second win for the day against UQ 
Izzy Hartog drives. 
Naiya Varidel clips a four through square leg. 
Meagan Dixon delivers again. 
Kirby Short drives on her way to 63. 
Grace Harris strikes out on the way to 114 against the Gold Coast. 
Courtney Sippel bowls against UQ.
Second Grade
Our second grade girls went down swinging with a 73-run loss to Valleys at Ashgrove Sports Ground.
Valleys batted first. Alex Lloyd and Kinjal Dani took a wicket each and Valleys posted an imposing 2-215 in their 40 overs. Wests girls battled hard, but fell short of Valleys score, posting 7/143. Significant contributions of 31 and 28 were made by Isabel Goffage and Alex Lloyd respectively.
Key individual statistics:
- Isabel Goffage 31 (49)
- Alex Lloyd 28 (53) and 1/32 (8)
- Kinjal Dani 13 (37) and 1/42 (8)
- Emma Lockwood 13 (25)
Wests Second Grade Women vs Valleys 
Isabel Goffage lines up a drive. 
Captain Bec McCoombes waits for the next rock to be hurled. 
Scarlett Varidel rolls one down. 
Alex Lloyd works some magic. 
Eliza Goffage punches down the ground.
