WAVES CRASH

28 January 2010

PHIL HOLMES

WESTERN Waves under-18s girls’ team has fallen agonisingly short of a second straight Commonwealth Bank Under-18s State Championship, losing to Inner East Emus in the final over of the day on Monday.

With the MCG as their playing field, it would have been easy for the Waves girls to be overwhelmed by the occasion in the twenty20 match.

Winning the toss was a positive start for captain Laura Speed and she didn’t hesitate to bat on what was a perfect batting strip.

Opening was Warrnambool’s Sarah Williams and Merino’s Marni Perry and the pair started cautiously. Perry was the first to fall for four, and was followed soon after by talented all-rounder Stephanie Townsend, who also made four, given out lbw.

When Williams was caught for seven off the bowling of Anna Lanning, Western Waves were reeling at 3-24.

Speed and Libby Whiting, both Hamilton based cricketers, set about restoring the innings and the pair added 26 runs for the fourth wicket.

Whiting played the anchor while Speed was the aggressor, hitting anything lose. The Waves finished at 6-75 off 20 overs, with Speed top scoring on 44-not-out.

Balls were wasted by her teammates, not allowing the team to get a good score, but although she failed to find a partner in crime, the final score gave Western Waves something to bowl at.

The Emus contained a couple of Australian players and with the score at 1-50 off 12 overs, the game seemed done and dusted.

But the fighting spirit of the Waves girls shone through, and with two overs to go, Inner East had slumped to 7-62.

Emma Sommerville was in great form with the ball taking two wickets, while Jess Crow bowled tightly in her short spell.

The Emus captain came to the crease and immediately took charge with a boundary. Then a couple of misfields and a wide put a dampener on what was set to be an epic finish.

Seven runs were needed off the last over with the Emus holding their nerve to need one for a tie and two for a win off the last ball.

The crowd were hushed and finally the Waves magnificent resistance ended with an Emus player hitting over the infield for two runs and victory.

Western Waves Regional Cricket Manager Stephen Field said the players were visibly shattered after the loss.

“The ground threatened to engulf them as they were obviously shattered and despite the comfort of each other and the coaches, Michael and Loretta Kearney, no words were enough,” he said.

“In hindsight not a lot went right for the Waves after the toss and it was probably a combination of nerves and self belief at crucial times that cost the team.

“However the camaraderie and the refusal to lie down meant they still had a chance to win right to the end.

“These girls are pioneers for a future generation of female cricketers.”

Captain Speed, in her last game for the Waves, and after a magnificent pathway career was named the player of the match.