The North West girls' open cricket team placed third at the Combined High Schools State Carnival held in the Raby Region of western Sydney from February 18 to 21.
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Players include local 13-year-old Tenterfield High School student Amelia Wishart; Margaret Conroy from Armidale; Lauren McGill (captain), Lara Graham, Miriam Barbara and Isabella Bramley from Tamworth; Alyssa Ford, Caitlyn Ford, Elsie Ford and Jacqueline Collett from Narrabri; Katarina McEwin from Gulargambone and Danielle Collier from Moree.
The team’s coach was Ryan Whitton from Oxley High School in Tamworth.
Results were as follows:
Game 1 North West 6-100 defeated Western 6-70. (20 over game)
Game 2 North West 3-102 defeated Hunter 3-98. (20 over game)
North West won in the final over with Captain Lauren McGill unbeaten on 38no.
This is the first time North West have defeated Hunter in around 15 years!
Game 3 North West 9-103 lost to Sydney East 5-106. (20 over game)
North West needed a four off the last ball to win and could only manage a single.
Amelia bowled four overs 1-20 with a batter caught at mid-wicket.
Alyssa Ford scored a classy 50 under pressure.
Game 4 North West 0-106 defeated North Coast 5-105. (20 over game)
Alyssa Ford scored another 50 and with fellow-opener Lauren McGill reached North Coast’s total without a wicket falling.
Amelia took a freakish one-handed out-field catch to dismiss a top order North Coast batter.
Elsie Ford took four wickets for North West, including a rare hat-trick, to become one of only seven players ever to have achieved the feat at the championships.
After the four preliminary games, the North West team placed third overall and played-off against Sydney West for a place in the grand final.
The start of play was delayed due to light rain.
North West lost the toss and batted first.
They were all out for 83 and struggled with the conditions and the strong Sydney West bowling attack that included Sydney Sixers and Australian under 19 fast bowler Hayley Silver-Holmes.
Margaret Conroy played the sheet-anchor role for North West, weathering the storm and staying at the crease for 16 overs and top scoring with 16.
Amelia came in to bat at no 10 and occupied the crease for four overs, facing Sydney Wests’ two opening quick bowlers, including Hayley Silver-Holmes and actually managed to score a run off her bowling before being bowled out. Amelia bowled 7.2 overs 0-24.
Sydney West passed the North West total with three wickets down.
The game continued after the win to give selectors an opportunity to watch the game.
In the playoff for third and fourth place, Sydney East made 6-129 off their 40 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Amelia bowled four overs 0-14. North West were 6-130 after 37 overs and this win game the team third place overall. Once again, Alyssa Ford was outstanding with the bat being unbeaten on 50 at the end of the innings.
Alyssa Ford received a 2019 outstanding performances award for the most runs scored at the carnival. Elsie Ford received an award for her hat-trick against North Coast.
Alyssa Ford and Lara Graham were selected in the 2019 NSW CHS Seconds team to play at the upcoming State Challenge competition in Sydney.
Congratulations to all the North West girls on their third placing at such a high quality carnival. The skills, sportsmanship and teamwork of the girls was outstanding.
The grand final saw Sydney South West 10-128 defeat Sydney West 10-96.
