2022/23 NZC Gillette Venus Women's Under 19 Tournament
A big week for New Zealand's best emerging female cricketers began in Lincoln, Canterbury, with the start of this season's first annual national age-group tournament.
Central Districts Under 19 headed in as defending champions in the 2022/23 Gillette Venus Under 19 Women's Nationals, having lifted the premier women's age-group trophy twice in the last three seasons since this age-group's inception.
They hit the ground running with captain Jessie Hollard producing a half century in their winning chase against Otago Under 19.
Auckland, Canterbury and CD were all winners on the opening afternoon, the latter two sides also pocketing a bonus point.
In a tournament comprising both white-ball formats, the first of four rounds of one-dayers saw Hollard win the toss and send Otago in on Bert Sutcliffe Oval, the southern cricketers batting through their 50 overs to reach 174/9.
Led by a top score of 66 from patient Hannah Wilson in two and a half hours, her top-order teammates contributed as they strung together three partnerships, but once Chloe Deerness was caught off Charlotte Stent at 137/3 in the 39th, CD began to rattle through the most of the remaining line-up in a hurry.
Hollard was unbeaten at the top in replay with 55 not out, forming a successful third-wicket partnership with Emma McLeod who hit an unbeaten 73* off 65 balls, before bringing home the bonus point at the end of just the 26th over.
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Auckland Under 19 elected to bat first in their match against Wellington on the other side of the hedge at Lincoln No.3, and also batted through their 50 overs to finish nine down, first-up.
It was a tough start for the Aucklanders who had lost four wickets inside the first 20 overs, but first-drop Kate Irwin grappled away to provide some stability with her 28.
She and Olivia Anderson (29) formed a promising 25-run stand for the fifth wicket before Ava Conroy - another scion of a great Wellington cricketing family that includes WHITE FERNS Melie and Jess Kerr and BLACKCAP Bruce Murray, broke the much-needed partnership.
Legspinner Conroy went on to take 4-41 off her 10, but there was frustration for the Wellington attack as the Auckland tail fought hard.
Number 11 Jess Smith top-scored with a gallant 39 off just 26 balls, including two sixes and five-boundaries, as she shared a delightful unbeaten 50*-run stand for the last wicket with Anika Todd (18*).
They would prove very handy runs in a tight match, Wellington coming within one hit of victory in the reply, but losing their last wicket in the 48th over to fall four runs short.
The runs had come from the top with Hannah Francis (32), Esme Olney-Boyd (25) and Blaze rep Kate Chandler (run out on 39) all contributing, but Irwin picked up two handy wickets before Rishika Jaswal did the damage with 3-31 and her run out of Chandler to clinch an exciting win for Auckland.
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Northern Districts rep and U19 captain Tash Wakelin led the way for ND on Lincoln Green with 81 off just 69 balls after having been sent in by Canterbury captain Izzy Sharp.
She dominated an 84-run stand at the top, but Canterbury was relentless with the ball and when Wakelin departed at 130/4, ND struggled to keep the momentum flowing.
Northern was dismissed for 199 in the 41st over, Abigail Hotton starring for Canterbury with 4-34 and Boadicea Lynch making an impact with a very tight 2-12 off her eight overs.
Canterbury didn't get off to a good start in the chase, losing both openers for no score. But Sharp's quick 35 at four helped her side get some traction, and although ND fought well with the ball to get them eight down, the win was ultimately comfortable for Canterbury thanks to Hotton's unbeaten 66* in the lower order.
Megan Pearson finished with a fine 4-55 off her nine overs for ND.
4 December 2022 • ROUND ONE (one-day)
Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Central Districts beat Otago by 8 wickets
Lincoln No.3
Wellington U19 lost to Auckland U19 by four runs
Lincoln Green
Canterbury U19 beat Northern Districts U19 by 2 wickets
