South Roos have caused a massive boil over in the Barrier District Cricket League Women’s semi final by defeating all conquering West by four wickets at the Norm Fox Oval this past Saturday.
West came into this weekend’s game with an unblemished finals record, having won every women’s premiership on offer since the competition began. They were, however, on new ground, having to win a knock out semi final for the opportunity to defend their crown.
The day began with South winning the toss and electing to bowl. Things could not have started better for the Roos women with Steph Wylie clean bowling West opener Gaylee Honson with the first delivery of the match.
“Bronte (Johns) our captain hasn’t lost a toss all season, and she won again and elected to field which was a little different to what we have been doing recently. It was a really inspired choice by her and it worked really well on the weekend,” South vice-captain Heidi Drenkhahn told the Barrier Truth.
Paige Cuy and Leonie Wilson seemed to steady the ship for the defending champions, putting on a 46-run partnership, before Bronte Johns got one through Cuy’s defences, rattling her stumps with the score on 46. Leonie Scholfield followed soon after with the score on 48. There was not a lot of resistance from the rest of the West side, aside from Megan Cumming’s 10 run stand.
When the 20 overs were finished, West were on 7/87. A very gettable target for a South team clearly smelling blood.
“We were optimistic heading into the match. We hadn’t played West too many times this season, with washouts and different things, but we knew our best cricket could win,” Drenkhahn said.
Having said that, Drenkhahn fell early with the score on just nine. That brought Stephanie Wylie to the crease. Wylie had picked up the first wicket with the ball, to end up with figures of 2/17, and would be instrumental with the bat too as she laid on 41 runs in what would turn out to be a match winning innings. Her wicket fell just before the winning runs were hit, as South picked up a historic victory and booked a place in this coming weekend’s final against North.
“Stephanie Wylie was very handy. We are thinking of changing her name to ‘Wild Thing’ Wiley. She clean bowled Gaylee Honson with the first ball of the match, and it was a great way to start the innings and it set the tone right from the start.”
South Roos women’s coach Matt Gray was blown away by the performance of his girls and spoke to us on the Monday following the semi-final victory.
“I am absolutely over the moon. It’s Monday and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Gray said.
Looking ahead to the final Mr Gray identified early wickets and pressure as the key to the final.
“There is no doubt that the North team is class. But they are no different to any other team. If we can get some early wickets, we are a chance.”
The league decider takes place this Saturday from 9am at Norm Fox Oval and pits The Roos against North Broken Hill.
