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Year 7 Girls Cricket Eastern Region Premiers 2024

One day after our Year 8 girls proudly received the Eastern Region Runners up pennant, our Year 7s turned the tables on Balwyn H S and were excited to be presented with their second Premiership flag for this year.

Our Semi Final against Box Hill H S was played in the normal 20/20 format. Winning the toss and batting, we amassed 141 runs, with no wicket lost. Compulsory retirements to Jassie F (32), Lottie W (30) and Dana S (34) were supported by our not out batters, Jada B (10) and Bonnie P (13).

9 players opted to bowl, with 7 capturing wickets. Jas A and Sarah R both bowled effectively. Emma L and Amy B captured a wicket each and Chloe L, who was on a hat trick, finished with a valuable 3 wickets. Jassie and Dana were involved in the catches; Jada and Lottie (a direct hit) in the run outs. 

Norwood 0/141

Box Hill 10/53

In the Grand Final, our opponent Balwyn, who had also won convincingly in their Semi v Vermont, was sent in to have a bat.

The format of the match included: 8 players per team; 15 overs each innings; all 8 players bowling at least one over; 2 batters to face 12 balls; 6 batters to face 11 balls and a wicket taken earnt 4 bonus runs for your batting total.

As in the Semi, all bowlers concentrated on their deliveries and as a unit were most effective. The most destructive were Lottie (after she swapped from wicket keeping with Dana) and Jada. Lottie was on a hat trick (both bowled) and her figures were 2/1 off 2 overs. Jada, who opened the attack with pace, took a most impressive 4/2 off 3. Wickets also fell to Bonnie, Jassie, Dana and Sarah. 

With our high total of 11 wickets (bonus of 44 runs) we were in a good position to simply bat positively, without needing to be too aggressive. Our sensible approach saw us accumulate 76, averaging 5 per over, and losing only 5 wickets along the way.

Norwood 5/76 plus 44 (11 wickets) = 120

Balwyn 11/42 plus 20 (5 wickets) = 62

As one of the top 8 schools in Victoria, we now prepare for the journey to north Wangaratta to play Cathedral Catholic College, Wodonga in the State Quarter Final. The winner proceeds to State Grand Final Day (held in Melbourne!)

Congratulations to all the squad on your fine achievement and big thank you to Ms. Creemers for her valuable support and bus driving skill.

Year 8 Girls' Cricket Eastern Region Grand Finalists 2024

In the knockout competition which required 9 players per side, 20 balls maximum faced by a batter and a minimum of 5 bowlers on a shorter pitch in a 50 minutes innings, we were drawn to tackle Koonung in the Quarter Final.

We accumulated 67 with the loss of 4 wickets in the ten overs faced. Both Paige F (15) and Jess F (14) were the mainstay in the batting, hitting two 4s each and both compulsorily retiring. Leah T concentrated well for her 17 balls before being caught by the keeper. Issi B (2) and Lara Y (1) were our not out batters.

We decided that Lara, Paige, Jess, Remi S and co-captain Taylah S would be our most confident 5 bowlers. Co-captain Jade F was leading well as our keeper and was involved in all 4 wickets taken: 2 run outs, a stumping and a caught behind. Taylah, who finished with the fine figures of 2/9 off 3, is to be commended for her courage and coolness in the final over. In a thrilling finish, with Koonung needing 4 runs from the over to draw, Taylah’s final delivery, a dot ball, ensured a one run victory and a progression to a Semi Final.

Norwood 4/67 d Koonung 4/66

Brentwood, having defeated Lilydale by one run, was our opponent in the Semi. Winning the toss, we decided to put runs on the board. Our co-captains led the way by opening the batting and with success. Jade was bowled by their most skilled player for 14 off 16 deliveries faced, and Taylah was undefeated on 11 off her 20. Vice- Captain Paige kept the score board ticking over and contributed a valuable 14 before the compulsory retirement. Batters 4 & 5, Jess ( 13*) and Dana S Mc( 7*) then formed a solid partnership to see us through to the end of our time-11 overs.

We employed the same bowling unit as in the quarter final. All 5 bowled accurately. For both Lara and Remi most pleasingly there were zero no-balls and wides. Remi also bowled their opener and further contributed with a maiden over, our only one for the day’s 3 matches. Both our bowlers and keen, effective fielders determined that the opposition’s score would be in arrears and that our final game for the day would be the Grand Final.

Norwood 1/92 d Brentwood 1/61

Pitted against Balwyn, who as Year 7s had reached the State last year, we were fully aware that our very best would be needed to have our chance to proceed to the upper echelon of Victoria’s cricketers. After being informed that the game was reduced to ten overs each because of time restraints, we won the toss and again opted to bat first. In the first over, it was obvious to all present that Balwyn’s Sam was a lightning quick bowler and most accurate. Their other bowlers were also skilled and consistent and they restricted us to 3/33 off 10.  Taylah was our top scorer, chalking up 15 off her 20 faced.

Paige opened the bowling this time and with her second delivery had their opener caught behind by a superb effort from keeper Jade. It was the start we were hoping for and consequently our confidence grew.  The arrival of Sam, though, and her 4 rapid 4s quickly saw our total reachable. In fact, in the first over of our 5th bowler we were surpassed.

Norwood 3/33 off 10

Balwyn 1/36 off 4.2

It had been a great effort by all our squad and we were thrilled to have been in the top 16 Year 8 Girls Cricket teams in Victoria. Best wishes to Balwyn at the State Quarter.

Michael Wilson.