ROUND 5 of the Victorian Women’s Premier Cricket 1sts competition produced some nail-biting action, with most of the games going down to the wire.

Plenty Valley v Box Hill

Plenty Valley is still searching for its first win of the 2021/22 season, this time losing to Box Hill. Batting first, Plenty Valley got off to a decent enough start with a 22 run opening partnership, but lost the next two wickets cheaply to find themselves at 3/40. A 112 run partnership between Jasmine Nevins and Tayla Vlaeminck steadied the ship a bit, but after that things started to go downhill from there. They lost their last four wickets for five runs to be all out for 177. Nevins and Vlaeminck were the top scorers for the Bats, scoring 54 and 57 respectively. Isabel White was the absolute star with the ball for the Mustangs, taking 5/26 off her 8.4 overs. This included one maiden.

In reply, the Mustangs lost their first wicket for only 25 runs, but things then started to get going for them. A 106 run performance from Anna Lanning was the backbone of the innings, and the Mustangs made the target in just over 33 overs. Vlaeminck was the pick of the Plenty Valley bowlers, picking up 1/15 off six overs, which included two maidens.

Melbourne vs Prahran

Although things went down to the wire, Melbourne were still able to beat Prahran and keep their undefeated run in tact. The game was delayed due to a delay with the ground, and subsequently reduced to only 30 overs a side.

Melbourne batted first, and their openers Stephanie Townsend and Rhiann O’Donnell made a solid 59 run opening run partnership. Then O’Donnell combined for a 42 run partnership before things slowed up a bit in the middle of the innings. In the end the Dees made it to 181 off their 50 overs. Hayleigh Brennan made 43 not out for the Dees, while Meika King was the best of Prahran’s bowlers, taking 2/28 off her four overs.

In the chase, Prahran got off to a good enough start, but it was nowhere near as well as Melbourne had done. Things began to wobble through the middle of the innings, and Prahran began to lose wickets very cheaply. Things came down to the wire, but in the end Prahran just couldn’t get the job done. They finished on 7/115 off their 30 overs. Both Brennan and Hasrat Gill picked up two wickets for Melbourne in the win, while Rhys McKenna top scored for Prahran with 32.

Ringwood vs Essendon Maribyrnong Park

It is a sign of the kind of innings you have had when your top scorer is the extras. Ringwood batted first, and openers Bhavisha Devchand and Olivia Henry made a 34 run opening partnership, but lost their first two wickets for one run to find themselves 2/35. Things just never really got going for the Rams, and they were bowled out for 109 in the 32nd over. Devchand, Tess Flintoff and Hayley McLaughlin were the only Rams to make double figures. Sam Bates was an absolute star with the ball for then Bombers. Bowling 7.5 overs, she bowled three maidens and took 4/13.

In reply, Essendon Maribyrnong Park cut it a little bit fine. They found themselves at 9/85, but their final pair Milly Illingworth and Taylah Casson held on and got the job done in the 38th over. Hailey Ferris was on fire with the ball for Ringwood, taking 6/30 off her 10 overs.

Carlton v Dandenong

Things did not get off to a great start for Carlton. Batting first, they lost their first wicket for only 14 runs. They lost wickets at a far too often pace for their liking and were bowled out for 171 in the 49th over. Nipuni Hansika once again top scored for Carlton, making 47. Chelsea Moscript was Dandenong’s best bowler, taking 3/25 off her five overs.

Dandenong in reply got off to a solid start, but lost a few cheap wickets to find themselves 4/103. In the end they got so close to their target, but were ultimately bowled out five runs short of their target. None of Dandenong’s batters went on to make particularly big scores. Kim Garth was the top scorer with 30. Meanwhile for Carlton, Cailin Green took 3/29 in the win.