U18F QLD State Challenge
Embers v Flares
Game 1 - One Day (50 overs) format
3 April 2023 at St Paul’s School Bald Hills
It was a pleasant autumn day at St Paul’s school and although sunny skies gave way to a few clouds in the afternoon, there were no interrruptions to the cricket. Embers skipper, Darcey Johnson, won the toss and elected to bowl.
An opening stand of 41 between Grace Collins and Lucy Bourke set the platform for the Flares. and was backed up by a 4th wicket 39 between Naiya Varidel and Lily Bassingthwaite and 6th wicket 45 between Bassingthwaite and Lilli Hamilton. The fall of both “Lillies” in the 47th precipitated a late order collapse from 5/164 to 9/175 at the close of the innings. Sophie Vernyik picked up a noteworthy 2/13 from 6 overs with Zoe Valencic, Darcey Johnson and Grace Abdy also picking up two each. Taylor Stumer completed a tidy spell behind the stumps with two catches and two stumpings while Laura Scheiwe capped off a fine fielding performance with two catches.
In the chase, the Embers were in trouble early at 2/18 in the 4th and never really recovered. A 3rd wicket partnership of 33 between Grace Abdy and Isabel Goffage provided some hope but after Goffage and Abdy fell in the space of 6 balls, wickets continued to fall regularly with the innings coming to a close 41 runs short in the 39th over. Wickets were shared for the Flares with Lilli Hamilton bowling beautifully for 2/20 from 9.3 overs. Naiya Varidel and Grace Collins also picked up 2 each.
Embers v Flares
Game 1 - T20 format
4 April 2023 at St Paul’s School Bald Hills
Skies were overcast for most of the morning. It was the Embers tun to bat first. As was the case on day one, early wickets troubled the Embers and with the wicket playing even slower, the score inched to just 4/26 from the first ten overs. The next ten were a little more productive with 51 added including a partnership of 21 from 20 between Isabel Goffage and Breanna Craven. Naiya Varidel and Amy Hunter picked up two each in their spells while Lilli Hamilton and Shari Anderson were miserly conceding just 11 each in their opening 4 over spells.
In contrast, the Flares rocketed to 25 from the first 5 overs but the loss of 4 wickets in 4 overs restricted the score to 5/44 from the first 10. a 6th wicket 35 run partnership between Lilly Bassingthwaite and Amy Hunter set the Flares back on track and the target was overhauled in 18.2 overs. Breanna Craven picked up 2/10 from 3 overs with the remaining wickets shared. Taylor Stumer picked up three dismissals behind the stumps.
Embers v Flares
Game 2 - T20 format
4 April 2023 at St Paul’s School Bald Hills
15 overs were completed before the heavens opened and prevented any further play. A stunning 36 from 31 by Taylor Stumer at the head of the Flares innings was the main contributor to the Flares’ 6/73. Grace Abdy featured heavily in the fielding innings with a wicket a catch and a run out.
Embers v Flares
Game 3 - T20 format
5 April 2023 at St Paul’s School Bald Hills
The Sun was back and all credit to the groundsmen for having a wicket ready to play after the previous day’s downpour.
The Flares were batting first and the innings was dominated by a tournament-high 49 not out from 49 balls by Lucy Bourke. Darcey Johnson kept the Embers in the game with 2/5 from 4 overs including 2 maidens! The Flares clicking over to 100 from the last ball of the innings.
Isable Goffage was once again a “mainstay” with the bat for the Embers taking 39 from 39 balls. Lilli Hamilton’s 2/4 from 4 included a two over spell of 2/0. which brought the chase to a grinding halt in the middle of the innings. A late flurry by Gracey Abdy and Eve Mollee was not enough to get the Embers home; falling 10 runs short.