Lyrebirds claim victory over the Raiders

THE Leongatha and District Cricket Association Lyrebirds headed up the highway on Sunday, May 4, to take on the Raiders in the inaugural Women’s Master’s Winter Competition at Endeavour Hills.

Captain Jackie Newman (Inverloch) lost the toss and was sent into bat, and it was openers Newman and Megan Krause (Wonthaggi Club) who got the Lyrebirds off to a flyer. 

Newman and Krause would go on to make an outstanding opening partnership of 78 before retiring at drinks, which bought Liza Burrows (Inverloch) and Kate Williams (Phillip Island) to the crease. 

These two ran hard to keep the score ticking over but eventually Williams was dismissed with the team score at 1/108. 

Enter Jess McDonald (Inverloch) and the big-hitting master class continued until Burrows eventually retired, playing an outstanding innings which included five fours.

Next to the crease was Elyse Fisher (Kilcunda-Bass) and the theme continue with smart stroke play and hard running before McDonald was dismissed caught and bowled at 2/150. 

Fisher and Nicole Creaser (Inverloch) would go on to add another 35 runs before Fisher was dismissed bowled, and the team score was 3/185. 

Tarryn Boden (Koonwarra L/RSL) was next to the crease and combined with Creaser pushed the ball into gaps safely and ran at every opportunity. 

At the end of the 35 overs, the Lyrebirds posted a strong total of 3/205.

It was the Lyrebirds’ turn to bowl, and it was speedster Kate Williams who opened the attack with Sarah Tyrrell (Kilcunda-Bass). 

The pair combined their bowling attack well and reward was received when the first wicket fell, a peach delivered by Williams clipping the top of off stump, and the Raiders were off to a rough start at 1/4. 

Williams finished her first spell with figures of 1/9 (3).

The next bowling partnership of Katrina Slidders (Inverloch) and Megan Krause continued to deliver wicket balls with Slidders dismissing the Raiders’ number three batter clean bowled.

Slidders would then go on to take another wicket, thanks to a skilful catch by Krause at mid-off, and the Raiders were at 3/31. 

Krause would then strike with the next two wickets and finishing with figures of 2/6 (3). 

Slidders was also an outstanding contributor with the ball finishing with figures of 2/12 (3). 

The relentless Lyrebirds bowling continued when Amy McRobert (Inverloch) and Tarryn Boden came on to bowl, and these girls would go on to each take valuable wickets. 

Boden with a caught and bowled combined with a great catch by Fisher at point, and McRobert’s wicket came via a great catch at midwicket by Burrows.

The Raiders at this stage were 7/42, and had seemed to steady, but an amazing run out by wicket keeper Nicole Creaser saw the Raiders most dangerous batter dismissed and the Lyrebirds were well in control.

Burrows then came into the bowling attack to claim the last wicket and it was a victory to the Lyrebirds in their first-ever game as a team. 

The highlight being the strength of the whole team effort by everyone with the bat, ball and in the field.

Megan Krause was named the player of the match in a well-deserved all-round effort.

The Lyrebirds next match is Sunday, May 18, at Endeavour Hills against the Dragons.

Lyrebirds 3/205 defeated Raiders 10/62.

Liza Burrows 35*, Jackie Newman 28*, Megan Krause 28*

Tarryn Boden 2/2 (3), Megan Krause 2/6 (3), Katrina Slidders 2/12 (3)