IT is halfway through the Women’s Premier 1sts competition, so over the next week we are taking a look at where all the teams are sitting as we head into the back half of the season. Today’s focus is the Box Hill Mustangs, who currently sit fourth on the table.

The season thus far

Box Hill has had a rather inconsistent start to the season. After rain ensured no one got to play on the opening weekend, the Mustangs got their season off to a great start the following weekend with a bonus point win over Prahran.

Box Hill bowled Prahran out for 91 in 45 overs, and only took 13.2 overs to reach the target. The following weekend the Mustangs came crashing back to earth, comfortably beaten by Melbourne.

After Melbourne made 260 off their 50 overs, Box Hill were bowled out for 80 in the 28th over.

Next up was Essendon Maribyrnong Park. After EMP made 163 Box Hill were able to reach that target quick enough to earn themselves a bonus point.

Round 5 was another bonus point win for the Mustangs, this time against Plenty Valley.

In the last round before Christmas, Box Hill kept Dandenong to 130 but were bowled out for 98.

Who’s played well?

From a bowling perspective, Isabel White and Holly Spencer have been the standouts.

White is only a teenager, but already proving she belongs at the top level of Premier Cricket.

In her five matches so far this season, she’s bowled 44.4 overs, and taken 14/161, which included four maidens. Not only is she the leading wicket taker for the Mustangs so far this season, but she’s the only Box Hill player to have taken a double digit number of wickets and a five wicket hall this season.  Her average is 11.5 this season and her economy rate is 3.6.

Vice-captain Spencer has also had a great start to the season thus far.

In her four matches so far this season, she has taken 8/78 from 32 overs. This figure includes a whopping seven maidens. Her average is 9.75 and has an economy rate of only 2.44. Her best figures so far this season 3/19.

Rounding out the top five of the bowling tally for the Mustangs is Danielle Montague, skipper Zoe Griffiths and Jasmine Fleming.

From a batting perspective, it is Anna Lanning who tops the tally. In the two matches she has played so far this season, she’s made 106 and 60 and only gone out once. Her strike rate is 91.1 and she’s managed to hit two sixes alongside 25 fours.

Spencer sits in second place, with a total of 78 runs for the season at an average of 19.5. Her highest score this season was a 61. Rebecca Carter, Griffiths and White round out the top five.

The rest of the season ahead

Although they do currently sit in a finals position, they are going to have to get more consistent with the bat in order to ensure their place in the finals. The gap between their best and worst at the moment is far too big to ensure they can feel comfortable about where they sit on the ladder.

In the next month they have got Carlton twice (once at home and once away), and they’re away to Prahran and at home to Ringwood. The Prahran and potentially the Ringwood game are very winnable, but the Carlton games will certainly be a challenge. They will need to be at their best in order to beat the Blues.