New Zealand: Third ton for Anna O'Leary (31 December 1998)
Wellington captain Anna O'Leary scored a remarkable third century in as many days as her team maintained its unbeaten record in the national under-21 women's cricket tournament at Ilam
31-Dec-1998
31 December 1998
New Zealand: Third ton for Anna O'Leary
The Christchurch Press
Wellington captain Anna O'Leary scored a remarkable third century in
as many days as her team maintained its unbeaten record in the
national under-21 women's cricket tournament at Ilam.
O'Leary had already reached three figures against Northern Districts
and Auckland before she got through to 100 not out from the last ball
of Wellington's 50-overs against Canterbury yesterday.
But it was a near thing for the 20-year-old Massey University
student. She was dropped at mid-wicket on 98 before completing her
century and taking her tournament average to a better-than-Bradman
305.
New Zealand Cricket encouraged associations to select their best
players for the tournament, and O'Leary has, in the words of
Wellington coach Penny Kinsella, been "head and shoulders above the
rest in batting class".
O'Leary has represented Wellington's first XI for three years and
toured England with the 1996 New Zealand team. Her goal is to earn
selection for the 2000 World Cup, so she is concentrating on
increasing her scoring rate to enhance her reputation as a
limited-overs cricketer.
"She's a real example for the other players. Anna has always been a
player earmarked as having potential and she is really showing that
right now," said Kinsella.
The bowlers from Otago and co-leader Central Districts still have the
dubious pleasure of confronting O'Leary in round-robin play leading
up to Saturday's final.
A 60-run opening stand between O'Leary and Jo Trendle (18) laid the
foundation for Wellington's 42-run victory over Canterbury. In other
matches Central Districts overhauled Auckland, and Otago fell 129
runs short of Northern Districts.
Scores:
Wellington 203-6 (A O'Leary 100no; B McNeill 2-35, E Kelly 2-34) beat
Canterbury 161 (S Burke 54; J Hunter-Siu 2-13, F King 2-16, A Corbin
2-33).
Auckland 142 (O Johnson 40no; D Trow 2-18, C Forsyth 2-16, E Komp
3-3) lost to Central Districts 146-4 (K Pulford 54, Forsyth 47no; M
Tunopopo 2-15).
Northern Districts 206-7 (A Wilkins 58; R Pullar 2-33, M Walker 2-16)
beat Otago 77 (M Kane 21; L Harris 3-15, H Partridge 4-9).
Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)