By Lachlan Onions
THE final round of women’s cricket took place in Mount Gambier on Sunday with a number games played in the Blue Lake city.
The first clash a Marist Park, saw the unmatchable Tigers run rampant to claim a 10-wicket win with more than 13 overs to spare against Bordertown.
The win was set up after a disciplined performance with the ball kept Bordertown to 6/53 off 20 overs.
Laura Chester asserted her authority from the outset as she bowled Georgina Buick in the first over in the game.
Chester then struck again with the first ball of the third over to leave Bordertown in danger at 2/8.
From there, North Sportsman’s took full control and the usual suspects of Fiona Young and Chelsea Gabriel made their presence felt.
Hayley Twigden was the best player for the visitors as she scored 11 runs off 25 balls.
Chester’s three overs saw her end with figures of 2/7, while Young took 2/6 off 2.5 overs.
It was a relentless performance with the ball as no player from Bordertown had a strike-rate above 50.
In the second innings, Gabriel made light work of her opposition as she posted a quick-fire 40 runs off 28 balls to help her side claim victory midway through the seventh over.
Over at Alan Scott Park, a much closer contest took place between Mil Lel and Naracoorte.
Naracoorte won the toss and sent Mil Lel into bat first, where it posted a competitive total of 7/103.
Jennifer Peterson was the best of the batters with as she carried the bat to score 32 runs in a stint which included four boundaries.
She received support from Dianne Horbury, who added 13 runs for Mil Lel.
Sophie Clifton was the best of the bowlers for Naracoorte as she took 3/21, while Anna McGregor claimed two wickets for 12 runs.
In response, Sile Legoe and Angela Donnelly helped Naracoorte claim a win by 14 runs.
Donnelly continued her impressive run of form as she scored an unbeaten half-century before she retired, while Legoe scored a handy 13 runs at the top of the order.
Lydia Megaw was the go-to player for Mil Lel and gave her side a chance as she ended her four overs with figures of 2/12.
She was supported by Julie Smith who took 1/12 off three overs.
Action continued at Alan Scott Park later in the day when Mil Lel and North Sportsman’s locked horns.
Mil Lel batted first and Alysha Coon made an early impact when she dismissed Megaw for two runs.
Georgia Little and Peterson then formed an impressive partnership to counter the Tigers.
However, the ladder leaders were once again disciplined in their bowling and runs were difficult to come by.
Little made it to 13 runs off 43 balls before she retired, while Peterson scored 27 runs off 47 balls before she returned to the sheds.
With new batters at the crease after the retirements, Chester took advantage of the situation and claimed her side’s second wicket of the game when she bowled Chloe Miller for one run.
After another strong performance with the ball, the Tigers restricted their opposition to 2/66.
Mil Lel had no answer for Chester who claimed 1/4 off four overs, while Alysha Coon took 1/8 off four overs.
Chester then backed up her impressive performance with the ball with a strong batting display to help her side claim another comfortable victory.
After Megaw and Little struck early to dismiss both openers, Chester made her way out to the middle at 2/21 and formed a 46-run partnership alongside Young.
Chester scored 30 runs off 28 balls, while Young added 16 runs to claim victory in the 11th over.
Bordertown and Naracoorte were scheduled to do battle at Marist Park in the afternoon but results were not available at the time of print.
