The Cricket Shepparton senior women’s post-season is upon us, as the 12th round of action concluded on Sunday, and Nagambie remains the clear favourite to take out the maiden premiership of the newly formed four-team competition.
The Lakers hosted Kyabram on Sunday, and despite a valiant effort with the ball by the Redbacks, Nagambie cruised to its 10th win of the summer.
Kylie Parsons dazzled with the Kookaburra, dismissing Shelley Houston for a golden duck, before her second over brought the key wicket of in-form Nagambie skipper Kayla Shepherd.
Sarah Villinger dug in for a determined 11 off 18, but Eliza Linehan lapped up her pole when Villinger went aerial but only to find a fielder.
Breanna Davison was the steady batter for Nagambie though, forging a 42-run partnership with Sharay Slivarich to hoist the Lakers out of their 3-24 hole.
Davison would go on to bat for the majority of the innings, scoring 46 before being run out in the 19th over as the ninth wicket to fall.
That would be the end of Nagambie’s innings too due to the Lakers fielding a side one short, ending with a score of 9-113, the Lakers’ lowest bat-first score of the season.
Yet despite the Redbacks’ determined effort, it was to all be unravelled when Nagambie shined the new ball, as a day of Davison damage continued.
A couple of singles got Kyabram underway, but Davison’s pace would skittle both Melissa and Morgan Parsons across her first two overs.
The bails were sent flying a third time in Davison’s second over too, leaving Linehan on her haunches and the Redbacks 3-3.
Sarah Chaston couldn’t pierce the gaps and fell for one off 15 deliveries, placing Kyabram at 4-10, but first drop Rebecca Bowles was forming a defiant innings.
Bowles put on a 21-run partnership with Penny Mason and 35-run partnership with Emma Roberts, scoring 35 not out by the end of 20 overs.
Despite saving face for the Redbacks from its tumultuous start, Kyabram couldn’t get close to the Lakers’ target, falling short by 47 runs.
In the round’s Saturday fixture, Mooroopna breezed by Shepparton Youth Club United at Princess Park to enter the finals in fine form.
The Goulburn Murray cricket premiers of 2024-25 demonstrated why they’re still a threat to the Cricket Shepparton crown despite Nagambie’s flawless record, defeating SYCU by eight wickets with six overs remaining.
United’s Mel Saunders was admirable with 58 not out off 52 balls, but SYCU’s remaining batters struggled to tick over the runs, with the home side’s innings end at 5-103.
Openers Poppy Vandermeer and Mia Earl would succumb to Hayley Williamson inside the first four overs, but Tasmyn Hutchins (46 not out) and Alyse O’Connell (30 not out) shared the load on the Cats’ way to victory.
Finals are now set for all four sides, and while the favourites are firmly established, the pressure of knockout cricket could pave the way for an upset.
On Saturday, SYCU will host Kyabram, with the loser to be eliminated from premiership contention.
Sunday will feature the top two sides Nagambie and Mooroopna, with the winner set to book the first grand final ticket, while the loser will be handed a double chance and take on the elimination final winner in a fortnight’s time.
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