The finals of Girls' Year 12 House Cricket took place on a sunny afternoon the Tuesday after Leave Weekend. This year’s tournament mirrored the boys' competition, with teams made up of six players and five over per side matches where all players apart from the wicket keeper required to bowl. The short, sharp format meaning every ball mattered and teams would require strong depth in their sides in order to be successful.
The draw saw reigning champions, Sutton, pitched against Fletcherites in the first semi-final, while Northbrook and Chetwynd faced off in the second.
Batting first after winning the toss, Sutton made a steady start, reaching 12 for no wicket off their first 2 overs. However, regular wickets as a result of some excellent Fletcherites bowling in the second half of the innings helped limit the final Sutton total to a very chaseable 24 for 5 off their allotted five overs. Harriet’s 10 off 9 balls the highest score for Sutton, while Maya was the pick of the bowlers for Fletcherites, taking 2-2 off her over. In response, Fletcherites wasted no time chasing down the target as opening batters Felicity and Maya reached the required 25 to win in the third over, making Fletch the first team to qualify for the final.
In the second semi-final, Chetwynd reach an impressive 44-0 off their five overs batting first, leaving Northbrook with the challenging task of chasing 8.9 an over to win. Despite losing a wicket in the first over of the chase, it proved to be a challenge Northbrook were up to, as a strong partnership for the second wicket which included nine boundaries saw them chase down the required 45 with an over spare to book their spot in the final.
Winning the toss this time, Fletcherites chose to follow the formula that had brought them success in the semi-final and elected to bowl. This looked initially to be a good decision, as tight bowling helped contain Northbrook’s free scoring batters from the semi-final to just 16 off the first three overs. However, a late charge from Sophie and Daisy saw Northbrook take 12 off the final over, helping them reach a competitive 35-3 off their allotted overs. In reply to Maya once again showed why she is leading run scorer for the Girls' 1st XI so far this season, as she made 26 not out off just six balls including two sixes. Well supported again by Felicity, the pair reach the 36 required for victory at the end of the second over, to secure a six-wicket victory and this year’s trophy for Fletcherites.
