A jubilant D-Grade women's team after winning last month's Grand Final. Photo supplied
CRICKET - Queenscliff’s D-Grade women’s team has created history by becoming the first all-female side in the club’s 150 year history to secure a BWCC premiership.
The side, coached by Tim Frankenberg, defeated Grovedale by 85 runs in the Grand Final, played at Armstrong Creek on Sunday 26 February.
Batting first, the Couta’s set a run chase of 140 for the loss of just four wickets. In reply, Grovedale managed just 8/55 in the 20/20 format match.
Captain Jess Fletcher was a standout, scoring 28 runs, including four boundaries, and taking 3/11 with the ball. Susan Monahan top scored with 29 not out from just 33 balls, including five fours, while Alex Birrell chimed in with 3/12.
“After being undefeated all season and having a great build up to the preliminary finals, we were feeling confident, but nothing is ever certain so we never took a win as a given,” Fletcher said.
“Everything went right on the day, we won the toss and elected to bat. The openers did a great job forging the way for the late batters to swing freely.
“Our opening bowler was a hat trick in the first over, so it was really the best start anyone could hope for. Our fielding was also top notch.”
In only its second season in the league, the club fielded two teams, the second in E-Grade - a measure of the sport’s growing popularity.
“The whole club is a very close community and we are a very close knit squad. May of the team were instrumental in the making of a women’s team, so it’s a very invested group,” said Fletcher. ‘We were also lucky enough to pick up a couple of very handy and experienced recruits this season.”
The side, coached by Tim Frankenberg, defeated Grovedale by 85 runs in the Grand Final, played at Armstrong Creek on Sunday 26 February.
Batting first, the Couta’s set a run chase of 140 for the loss of just four wickets. In reply, Grovedale managed just 8/55 in the 20/20 format match.
Captain Jess Fletcher was a standout, scoring 28 runs, including four boundaries, and taking 3/11 with the ball. Susan Monahan top scored with 29 not out from just 33 balls, including five fours, while Alex Birrell chimed in with 3/12.
“After being undefeated all season and having a great build up to the preliminary finals, we were feeling confident, but nothing is ever certain so we never took a win as a given,” Fletcher said.
“Everything went right on the day, we won the toss and elected to bat. The openers did a great job forging the way for the late batters to swing freely.
“Our opening bowler was a hat trick in the first over, so it was really the best start anyone could hope for. Our fielding was also top notch.”
In only its second season in the league, the club fielded two teams, the second in E-Grade - a measure of the sport’s growing popularity.
“The whole club is a very close community and we are a very close knit squad. May of the team were instrumental in the making of a women’s team, so it’s a very invested group,” said Fletcher. ‘We were also lucky enough to pick up a couple of very handy and experienced recruits this season.”
