HAMILTON and District Women’s Cricket Association will not have a team in the Western Waves Festival of Cricket grand final after the Hurricanes were soundly by Warrnambool at Reid Oval on Sunday.
The Lady Hurricanes entered this brand new representative competition this season with high hopes, but were soundly beaten in both their games.
The players and officials now know what they are up against next season and will prepare accordingly between now and the first match of the new season.
Having already been defeated by Mt Gambier, the Hurricanes entered the match with an outside chance of claiming a spot in the final against Colac if it could beat the Warrnambool ladies convincingly.
The Hurricanes lost the toss and were asked to field first in tough conditions, which saw the mercury climb above 30 degrees, but Pippa Williamson soon had reason to celebrate after sending Mikaela Doran (two) back to the pavilion in only the second over of the day.
Hurricanes skipper, Claire Widdecombe, bowled Grace Butters (11) after a steady innings which brought Shannon Johnstone to the crease, posting 68 from only 41 balls with 14 boundaries to take the game away from the visitors.
Williamson was brought back into the attack and claimed her second wicket when she bowled Lori Young for 15, but it couldn’t stop the home side posting 5-186 from the allotted 30 overs with Williamson being the best of the attack with 2-25.
With the required run rate at more than six per over, the Hurricanes needed the top order to fire if they were going to hunt down their target.
It wasn’t to be, as Leah Drendel (42 from 48 balls) was the only top order batter that could be happy with her innings after the Hurricanes were swept aside to be all out for 101.
Widdecombe (12) – who fell to classic catch by Shannon Johnson - and Emily Huglin (14) were the only other players to post double figures, as the Hurricanes ran out of puff against some very good Warrnambool bowling.
The Hurricanes lost wickets in pairs through the top order, with Ella Jackson and Jacqui Robinson not bothering the scorers, while Aisha Hendriks (one) and Ros Thatcher (six) also fell cheaply.
This left the lower order too much to contend with and despite the best efforts, the final score was a fair indication of the dominance of the Warrnambool attack.
The winner of the South East versus Warrnambool game at Frew Park in Mt Gambier this coming Sunday will play Colac at College Turf on February 26 to decide the first winner of the Western Waves Festival of Cricket Women’s competition.
