Claire Lennon’s ACT/NSW Country has claimed the 50-over title at the 2017-18 Under 18 National Championships after defeating New South Wales Metro by one wicket in a nail-biting final in Canberra on Thursday.
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In a low scoring affair, NSW Metro won the toss and elected to bat but it was ACT/NSW Country who made all the early running with Ellie Dalgarno-Fixter (4-21) claiming the first two wickets of the match.
NSW Metro's batters managed to occupy the crease but tidy bowling from ACT/NSW Country meant runs were hard to come by, with only Maddy Darke (16), Kate Barry (19) and Angelina Genford (16) reaching double figures.
Dalgarno-Fixter continued to impress with the ball, claiming two more wickets to finish with four for the match as NSW Metro was bowled out for 84.
Lennon didn’t bowl but was busy in the field taking three catches and affecting one run-out.
ACT/NSW Country made a nervous start in reply, losing three early wickets to be 3-11 before Matilda Lugg (17) and Katelyn Beaumont (23) steadied the ship.
The wickets continued to fall as NSW Metro closed in on an unlikely victory, however a defiant 17 from Abby Taylor proved to be the difference, with ACT/NSW Country reaching the target with just over two overs to spare.
Lennon finished the carnival with six wickets with a best bowling performance of 3-6 but didn’t have a lot of opportunities with the bat.
Tamworth’s Lara Graham and Jess Davidson’s Cricket Australia XI meanwhile lost their third/fourth play-off match against Victoria by six wickets.
Batting first the Cricket Australia’s innings fell away after a good start and they could only muster 142. Graham was unbeaten on eight after Davidson made three earlier in the innings.
Victoria then chased the runs down with almost seven overs to spare.
Davidson (0-13) and Graham (0-6) both rolled the arm over but were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile at the under 19 male national championships in Hobart, Ryan Meppem and Tom Scoble’s ACT/NSW Country side have enjoyed wins over Northern Territory and Victoria Metro.
Meppem has been among the wickets in both games claiming 1-24 against Northern Territory and 3-32 against Victoria Metro.