FOUR state selections was the icing on a great final day for the region’s cricketers at the state PSSA girls’ carnival at Barooga yesterday.
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North West’s Kareena Dawson (Sandon Public), Alyssa Ford (Narrabri West) and Lara Graham (Nemingha) were all named in the 24-strong state squad, along with Calrossy’s Jess Davidson.
For Davidson, state selection came on top of a state title after she’d helped Combined Independent Schools (CIS) snare possibly their first title.
They, at least, haven’t won it since 1996.
After taking 1-2 from two in CIS’s morning win over Western, which secured them a spot in the final, Davidson played a starring role against Mackillop in the final.
She opened the batting and top-scored with 36 as CIS posted 4-143.
They then completed a comprehensive win by bowling Mackillop out for just 41 in the 17th over.
“The girls batted superbly then put in a very strong bowling performance,” CIS manager Sharon Johnston said.
Davidson backed up her efforts with the bat to claim 1-7 from her three overs.
She was one of five CIS girls named in the state squad and will join Dawson, Ford and Graham at a development camp in the next school
holidays.
The team to play at the All Schools nationals will be selected from that.
North West was only “a smidgen” off playing in the final.
It lost out to Mackillop on quotients, after it, Mackillop and Polding finished equal at the top of Pool B with one loss each.
North West ended up finishing fourth after going down to South Coast in their play-off game in the afternoon.
It was though just a bit of a muck-around, with the two sides playing a bit of a modified game.
Earlier, North West had put itself in contention for the final with a 76-run win over Riverina in their final round game.
As it has done all carnival, it set the foundation with the bat, making 2-140.
Dawson made 50 of those before retiring while Ford finished unbeaten on 33.
Elsie Ford (Narrabri West) also hit 21 and Isabelle Cameron (Nemingha) 11no.
North West then restricted Riverina to 6-64, with Graham returning 2-11, Dawson 1-14, Tamworth South’s Rhanee Coleman 1-4 and Alyssa Ford (Narrabri West) 1-9.
Dawson also took three “fantastic” catches at first slip.
She had a great carnival and was adjudged the most valuable player for the week.
Graham won the players’ player award.
Hodge was delighted with how they went.
“I’m really thrilled,” Hodge said.
It’s the best North West has performed for a number of years.
Hodge said the big difference was their batting.
“We’ve had that strong top order,” she said.
They were only bowled out once.