Country & city teams split honours

Wellington hosted the Cricket NSW Women's City v Country Championships over the weekend with every game being hard fought and all coming down to the last over to determine the winning team.

On Saturday the Country Firsts won the toss and sent City in to bat. Country bowlers worked hard and shared the wickets with Alex Blackwell, Captain from Riverina, having the best bowling figures of 3/19. City's top order batters failed to perform and relied on Sarah Aley, Mortdale, a medium fast bowler to accrue 41 to establish an end target of 186.

In reply, Country started well with retired international Lisa Keightley from Mudgee making 41. Lack of communication forced Country to make several run-outs and apply pressure for their bottom order batters. Requiring 4 from the last ball to win the match, City fielded tightly and won the match. Sarah Aley was named Player of the Match by the umpires.

On Sunday, Country again won the toss and elected to bat. Working hard against the experienced City bowlers, the Country middle order added 90 in the last 13 overs including a great partnership of Alex Blackwell (54 not out) and Jenny Wallace of Hunter, (53 not out) and setting a total of 4/216. City's middle order replied in a similar fashion with Michelle Goszko, Chiswick, making 57 and Martha Winch, Putney, making 74. Country bowlers forced errors and City's bottom order collapsed ending all out for 213 in 49th over. Best bowling from Country was Lisa Keightley who took 3/38. Alex Blackwell was named Player of the Match for her great innings and bowling of 2/16.

With the Championship ending one game each, City retained the Lorna Thomas Trophy.

In the Emerging games (Under 23's), both teams pushed each other to the limit with equally exciting climaxes as the Firsts. In the first game, City Emerging set a target of 160 restricted by great bowling by Tara Lee Kiley, Bathurst, who took two wickets off 3.4 overs. In reply, Country Emerging lost early wickets but a steady partnership from Corinne Hall, Gateshead, (59) and local Samantha Hinton, Wellington (57), made 162 in the 49th over. Corinne Hall was named Player of the Match.

In game two, City Emerging elected to bat first and set the same score as day 1 of 160 after 50 overs. Country bowlers Laura Clulow, Thornton, and Alex Burke, Parkes, were the best bowlers with figures of 3/31 and 3/32 respectively from their 10 overs. In the second innings City Emerging were confident in both bowling and fielding and although dropped several early catches, restricted all the Country batters with only local Sam Hinton achieving a deserved 44. Country Emerging were all out for 151 in the last over. Kirsty Riley, Eschol Park, was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets for only 23 runs off 10 overs - she was named Player of the Match.

With each team winning won match, Country Emerging team retained the Maree Lee Shield.