LDCA Women’s Masters Cricket

OUR lady Lyrebirds travelled to Endeavour Hills to take on Eastern Dragons for a great match-up between first and second on the ladder in round two of the Women’s Masters Winter Competition.

Captain Jackie Newman (Inverloch) won the toss and elected to bat, it was openers Newman and Megan Krause (Wonthaggi) who got the Lyrebirds off to a patient start as they do best.

Krause fell victim to a low delivery in the fifth over and Newman was dismissed bowled in the ninth over.

Liza Burrows (Inverloch) tried her best to score freely but the Dragons bowling was tight, and Burrows’ wicket eventually fell to a catch at square leg with the team score at 2/26.

Kate Williams (Phillip Island) entered the game and showed her steady hand to become a mainstayer with the bat.

Elyse Fisher (Kilcunda-Bass) and Jess McDonald (Inverloch) were not long after dismissed via catches but enter Nicole Creaser who batted beautifully and nudged the ball into gaps and ran hard.

In a game where boundaries were hard to come by due to damp conditions, Creaser and Williams steadied for the Lyrebirds until Williams was dismissed caught and bowled.

Tarryn Boden (Koonwarra L/RSL) was next in and tried her best but was soon dismissed as was Katrina Slidders (Inverloch).

Amy McRobert (Inverloch) entered the crease and supported Creaser well, both batters retiring after 35 overs with the team score at 8/94, batter in waiting Jan Hodgson (Kilcunda-Bass).

Lyrebirds turn to bowl and it was openers Williams and McDonald who did the damage ripping through the opening batters early and leaving the home team reeling at 3/5 after three overs.

Williams with two wickets in her first over and McDonald with a wicket in her first over, thanks to a great caught and bowled to Williams, and two catches to Creaser behind the stumps.

The tight bowling continued with Burrows and Krause in at the first change and they continued the wicket-taking each claiming one.

The Lyrebirds bowled and fielded tightly but the experience of the Dragons showed through as they steadied through the lower order to send the game down to the wire.

Catches to Burrows and Fisher at short mid-wicket and square leg were a highlight.

In pursuit of the Lyrebirds set score it all came down to the last over, thanks to excellent run outs by Newman and Fisher, the Lyrebirds needing one wicket and the Dragons needing a single run it was opener Williams with the ball in her hand.

Unfortunately, the result didn’t go the way of the Lyrebirds with the Dragons securing their last run to win the game two balls into the over, but it was a fantastic game of skill and grit by the Lyrebirds girls, never giving up until the end.

Wicketkeeper Nicole Creaser was awarded Player of the Match for 25 not out with the bat, and three catches and two assisted run outs behind the stumps.

The next match is in August against Willow Grove.

Results LDCA Women’s Masters Cricket (Round 2)
Nicole Creaser 25*
Kate Williams 11
Amy McRobert 8*
Megan Krause 2/10
Kate Williams 2/22
Liza Burrows 1/9