THE Hamilton Hurricanes have fallen short against Colac and District Cricket Association in their last match of the 2021-22 season, in an entertaining match at Melville Oval on Sunday.
In a prelude to the all-new representative competition that will involve these teams next summer (along with Warrnambool, Mt Gambier, Geelong and Ballarat), the teams met for a friendly at Melville Oval to round out their respective summers,
The Hurricanes’ selectors have selected the teams for the four matches played this summer with an eye to the new competition, as they have given opportunities to many players, both younger and older, to shine at this higher level.
Claire Widdicombe again captained the side and she was asked to bat first upon losing the toss in a surprising decision from the visitors.
The surface had hosted the Under-14 grand final the previous two days and was a good batting wicket in that match, amd so it was also for the ladies.
Colac had chosen a team full of premier cricket players, while those players from the Hamilton association who also play premier cricket were unavailable for the match, giving others the opportunity to showcase their skills against higher standard opposition.
Widdicombe and Leah Drendel strode to the middle with intent, looking to get the home side away to a solid quick start in the 30 over per team encounter.
Drendel was the aggressor, as she muscled the ball to the boundary, while Widdicombe was content to turn the strike over but also pounced on any wayward deliveries.
They posted 50 in only the eighth over, as they looked to increase the run rate even higher.
Drendel eventually fell in the 10th over with 54 on the board.
She was bowled for 30 which came at run-a-ball pace and it was against the run of play that she was dismissed, such was the dominance of the batters.
Her partner would carry on to 28, while Jacqui Robinson (10) and Sarah Cassidy (17-not-out) were the only other batters to post double figures, as the Colac bowlers roared back into the match to claim 5-25 with Hamilton’s middle order faltering.
The final score of 6-117 was below par, as the team was on target to score 170+ when the openers were going along, but this match was all about the players learning to play at this level; representative cricket for Hamilton women hasn’t been played for well over a decade prior to this season.
When the Hurricanes came out to field the side was buoyant and looking to claim early wickets, but the Colac opening batters, Taylor Casson and Bianca Robinson, were equal to the task and they took 15 from the second over to give their team a very quick start.
It wasn’t until Drendel was introduced into the attack from the grandstand end that the Hurricanes claimed the first wicket.
She would claim the wicket of Casson with her fourth ball, as she bowled the opener for 10 and Colac were 1-33.
Casson was followed to the pavilion by Robinson in the very next over, as Cassidy claimed the second bowled dismissal of the innings.
With the loss of two quick wickets, Colac looked to consolidate with Jessica Moulden and Megan Rodway digging in.
They took the tally to 55 and looked as if they would take the match from the home side when Emily Huglin replaced Drendel and had Moulden bowled for 15.
That wicket turned the match, as Huglin bowled Rodway for six and Drendel had Sam LaFranci (one) run out with a great piece of fielding that reduced the visitors to be 5-58.
The Hurricanes were on top and the entire squad lifted, as the bowlers pressured the batters, but at this level the teams have players who can bat well right through the order and Heidi Stansfield (27-not-out) and Brodie Humphrey (10) took control of the match with a 30-run sixth wicket partnership that took the wind from the Hurricanes.
Colac would go on to reach its target and finished at 7-119, but it was far from convincing for such a talented team and the Hurricanes proved they belong at the level.
Both teams will take the winter to prepare for the new competition and all are looking forward to renewing the rivalry next summer.
