Bice hosts Under 18 tie.

 

Bice Oval was the scene of a tied game in the National Under 18 Women's Championships on January 5.

 

The game was the first for the SA Under 18s  and included Southern players Dayna Cox and Tahlia McGrath.

 

Tahlia shone in the game with three catches, five overs for 18 runs and topscored with a PB of 52 being run out on the fourth last ball of the match in quest of the winning run.

 

The game was a tight affair all day – with the ACT off to a steady start of 47 before losing their first wicket.  They lost their second at 64 – a 58 run third wicket stand took them to 2/112 – but they seemed to lose momentum to be dismissed for 167 in the 42^nd over.

 

We batted five overs before the lunch break to lose one wicket.  Dayna Cox batted solidly for 10 (53 minutes) at Number three to take the score to 3/40 in the 18^th.  Her 32 run second wicket stand gave us a useful start.  But her loss started a similar mid order collapse to the ACT –as we lost three wickets at 44.

 

Tahlia McGrath (batting at Number 7) came in with SA at a precarious 5/44.  She  steadily built partnerships with Tucker (30), Patterson (32) and Martin (43) to see us within sight of a win.  SA needed 12 off the last four overs with one wicket in hand.  With two overs to go we needed four and one off the last over.

 

Tahlia was run out as the last pair attempted to steal a run to win the game.

 

For Tahlia it was her first 50 at state level and the second for her career (previous best was 50 retired in a C grade game against Prospect.)  She impressed all (including the umpires) with her cool, mature approach – tempering precise driving with aggressive pull shots and well judged running.

 

FULL STATS OF THE INNINGS

99 minutes batted

85 balls faced

3 fours

 

A big thank you to the big contingent of volunteers who made the day very memorable for Southern District.  We had mums, dads, players and supporters working on catering, setting up marquees, setting up the ground and providing plenty of support for our players.

 

We wish Dayna and Tahlia all the best for their games over the remainder of the tournament.  We also wish Kayla McGrath all the best as she captains the SAPSASA side in Canberra starting Saturday.

 

You can follow their games on the net

Go to

 

SACA website

youth squads

under 18 female championships

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Remember practice begins on Friday the 7^th with games in A and B grade on January 16.

 

DON'T FORGET THE QUIZ NIGHT ON JANUARY 22 GET YOUR TABLES ORGANISED.