By Lance Jenkinson
Against all the odds, Hoppers Crossing has taken out the CV Women’s Community Cricket north-west A one-day title.
The Cats survived two thrilling finals that went down to the last over to become champions.
Having to play both the semi-final and the grand final away and being the lower ranked side in each game, the Cats were undoubtedly the outsiders.
All that mattered was the belief that existed in the Cats camp. Hoppers Crossing went into its grand final against Ballarat knowing if it played to its optimum, it could produce a giant-killing performance.
Despite that, Cats captain Hannah Gobbe rated her side as having “only a slim chance”.
It was advantage Hoppers Crossing at the coin toss.
The Cats knew that if the powerful Ballarat batting line-up had the chance to bat on a new wicket, there was plenty of scope for damage.
“Thankfully, we got to bat first today,” Gobbe said.
At 3-8, things were not looking good for Hoppers Crossing. But, momentum turned in favour of the Cats on the back of a superb 49-run partnership between Taylah Steadman (58) and Madalyn Smith (29).
“When they were out there, that’s when we started thinking we might be able to get some runs on the board to compete,” Gobbe said.
Steadman was heroic for Hoppers Crossing.
The opener survived 29.2 overs before the Cats were bowled out for 146. Her match-winning knock came under duress.
“Taylah really knuckled down and batted quite well today,” Gobbe said. “She knew how to pick the gaps and her blocking was really good as well. Even though she had a sore thigh, she was still out there getting quick singles.”
Hoppers Crossing’s lower order provided valuable runs late in the innings, including knocks from Odette Lopez (10), Shani Dixon (8) and Mary Bettiol (5).
No matter what the score, the Cats needed to bowl well to defend it. They did just that, with all five bowlers used taking at least a wicket.
Kayla Koropeckyj’s 2-18 off seven overs was the most vital. Koropeckyj claimed the scalp of Ballarat star Renee Moffitt for 43.
Moffitt scored 1160 runs this summer to average a remarkable 105.5 in all formats.
Once Moffitt was removed, Hoppers Crossing’s winning chances increased significantly.
“Renee is an awesome batter,” Gobbe said. “We knew she would be the one we had to tie down. She got a couple of shots away, but Odette and Maddy, opening the bowling, were pretty bloody awesome.
“Then Kayla took her wicket.”
Lopez finished with 1-29 off nine overs, while Smith snared 2-49 off nine.
Just as in the semi-final, Smith was thrown the ball for the last over – and delivered for her team. Ballarat’s run chase fell five runs short, sparking wild celebrations among the Cats and their supporters.
“A lot of us were trying to keep our calm until the last ball was bowled and we had it in the bag,” Gobbe said. “Then it was all running, yelling and screaming in the middle of the ground.”
