Stingettes and Scorps set for grand final

INVERLOCH and Leongatha Town will meet in the Leongatha and District Cricket Association women’s grand final on Saturday, February 22 after both sides won their semi-finals on Sunday.

Inverloch v Glen Alvie

THE Inverloch Stingettes earned their ticket into the grand final after winning a tight contest against Glen Alvie on Sunday.

The Stingettes went into the match as favourites after being crowned minor premiers at the end of the home and away season.

Glen Alvie won the toss and chose to bowl.

Inverloch put forward some consistent partnerships with Karin Sluiter standing out from the pack with 19 runs.

Jacqueline Newman and Charley Donohue contributed 14 runs each.

Glen Alvie was not going to make it an easy victory for Inverloch, taking eight wickets and adding plenty of penalty runs to kick start its score.

Gaby Hynes took two wickets and her later performance with the bat would earn her player of the match.

Inverloch finished its innings with a score of 8/104 but its fielding performance would stretch that score to a winning total of 125.

Hynes was Glen Alvie’s best with the bat making 20 runs which included three fours.

She was closely followed by Madelene Ylen who made 19 runs and belted out four fours.

Two wickets were taken by Inverloch captain Keely Dennerley and the team took a total of five.

Glen Alvie pulled up short with a total of 117 sending the Stingettes into the grand final.

Town v Phillip Island

WITH soft dew on the ground and a giant “80” celebrating the club’s long history watching over the oval, Scorpion Park looked a picture on Sunday morning and so did the Scorps.

If there had been an award for most nervous energy before the first ball it would have gone hands-down to club president Cam Dowling.

Dowling has personally umpired every women’s Scorpions match over the past three seasons standing for every delivery.

It is a mammoth commitment and one that has helped build the program into what it is today.

With two official LDCA umpires on duty Dowling swapped the clicker for the scorebook and the game was ready to begin.

Town won the toss and elected to bat.

The buzz around the women’s team was unmistakable.

The crowd kept building until the pavilion was filled to the brim with supporters all eager to see the Scorps take the field.

With the bat Town put together steady partnerships throughout the innings.

Kate Oates (26), Natalie Challis (25) and Sarah Knox (20) led the way with important contributions.

Every boundary brought a roar from the pavilion while sharp singles and quick twos kept the scoreboard ticking.

At the end of the innings Town had posted a competitive 131 in hot and humid conditions.

Phillip Island began its chase with 15 penalty runs but the Scorps’ bowlers kept things tight from the outset.

With disciplined line and length and sharp fielding pressure runs were hard to come by.

Although only four wickets fell Town never allowed the game to slip controlling the tempo from start to finish.

The final scores were Town 143 and Phillip Island 99.

Credit must go to Phillip Island who fielded a side of eight and consistently punched above its weight this season playing the game in great spirit.

Oates’ quick work behind the stumps earned her player of the match.
Town will face Inverloch in the grand final on Saturday, February 22.