Tara Murray
Werribee’s first Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition finals series ended in defeat, but the season was a win for the Tigers.
After winning a premiership in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association last season, the Tigers moved across to the community competition in the shield 3.
After just missing out on finals in the T20 competition, the Tigers made the semi finals of the one-day competition.
Facing a more experienced Melton Centrals, the Tigers weren’t able to come away with the win on Sunday.
Centrals made 3-172 from their 35 overs, with it all single wicket takers for the Tigers.
The Tigers started slowly, before a partnership in the middle order gave them some hope.
It wasn’t to be as they finished 7-145.
Yashika Batra top scored with 60, while Ananya Mahajan made 58.
Tigers coach Ivo Havard said that the difference was a couple of Centrals’ experienced players, who both played key roles with the bat and ball.
Despite the loss, Harvard was thrilled with how the side had gone this season.
“They are very good,” he said. “We’re a really young team playing against some full women’s sides.
“There’s some really talented girls who will have pretty successful careers.”
Harvard highlighted some of the stars in the side, who had really good seasons.
Wicketkeeper Lisa Larcombe, who is one of the side’s bigger hitters, is deaf. Harvard said she was a really high achiever in the team.
April Chaudhary is just 11 and is going to be a player for the future.
Gurveer Padam was the side’s highest run scorer and Mahajan is an allrounder coming through.
Nikita Sharma is a fast bowler and another who is doing really good things.
Harvard said the challenge of playing 36 overs was something that did take a while to get used to.
“We’re a highly talented young group playing some really strong female sides.
“Playing 36 overs [innings] was a tough gig for the young kids, going up from 20 overs to 36 overs.
“It teaches them so much and how to bat for longer periods of time, rather than wham bam for 20 overs.”
Harvard said they planned to continue playing the longer format to help the players develop.
He said the success of the side was a real positive for the Werribee senior and junior cricket clubs.
“We expect to see many of these names at higher levels.”
Melton Centrals will play Keilor in the grand final.
