EARLIER this week, the inaugural Under 18 Women’s Premier Cricket Competition’s first round took place, with 10 clubs from across the Premier Competition entering a team in this first season.

In the match of the round, Box Hill was in fine form first up, easily accounting for local rival Ringwood.

Ringwood won the toss and sent the Mustangs in to bat. The Rams did not have to wait long before they struck, dismissing Katherine Dekel to leave the Mustangs at 1/9. Ringwood then struck again before Box Hill could add to their score, and both openers were back in the sheds. Then, things started to turn in favour of the Mustangs.

Ashling O’Farrell and Isabel White put a 175 run partnership to really get the Mustang innings going. Once O’Farrell went out, the scoring did not stop for Box Hill. White and Amelie Gladman put on 29 runs before White and Vaishnavi Munukuttia put on 104 runs. In the end, Box Hill finished on a massive 5/346 from their 50 overs.

White was the absolute star of the Box Hill innings. She was there most of the innings and made 141 not out. O’Farrell also batted really well, and made 90. On the other side of this onslaught was the Ringwood bowlers. Rosie Sykes was the pick of the Ringwood bowlers. She took 2/31 off her six overs, which included one maiden. Chloe Blacker, Lauren Barclay and Lucy O’Meara were the other wicket takers for Ringwood, who took one apiece.

In the reply, Box Hill did not have to wait long before they struck with the ball either. They got Alexandra Sheedy for one to leave the Rams at 1/5. Ultimately, the Rams lost too many wickets too quickly and they could not get many double figure partnerships together. Only four batters made double figures and in the end they were bowled out for 108. Skipper Hayley McLaughlin top scored with 22.

For Box Hill, after she starred with the bat, O’Farrell also starred with the ball. She took 2/12 off her five overs. White was also economical with the ball, taking 1/6 off her four overs, which included two maidens. Ellen Bradley, Yashoda Senarathne, Jasmine Gouldson, Sarah McNulty and Khushi Choudhari all also took once wicket each.

In other results:

• Melbourne sent a strong message to the rest of the competition, thrashing Dandenong to the tune of 178 runs.
• Over at Greenvale, it was Greenvale Kangaroos who got the first up win against Geelong.
• A strong bowling performance from Essendon Maribyrnong Park set them up for a good win against Carlton.
• Dandenong put up a strong total batting first against Plenty Valley, before a strong bowling performance saw Plenty Valley not get anywhere near the target.

The sides have to wait a little while until the next round of matches.

The next round of matches in on January 17, with the rest of the rounds coming in the following days before the tournament culminates in the final on January 21.

In Round 2:

• Melbourne will take on Greenvale Kangaroos
• EMP travel to take on Box Hill
• Geelong and Plenty Valley square off
• It’s the battle of the Blues versus the True Blues as Carlton take on Prahran
• Dandenong host Ringwood