Horsham Lightning 5-108 def by Wimmera Mallee Belles 5-159
Round four of the Wimmera Girls T20 Cup was played at the picturesque Dimboola Recreation Reserve, with the Belles and Lightning scheduled to play on the hard wicket.
Lightning won the toss and chose to bat, as the Belles took wickets early with Maddi Fitzpatrick taking three catches, Lucinda Holmes-Brown one catch and Rehmi Bourke getting a run out all in Holmes-Brown's first two overs, which returned the top figures of 4-13.
From that point on, while the Belles were able to keep the pressure on by keeping runs to a minimum, the Lightning protected their wickets well.
The Belles were unable to take any more wickets, with the Moloney sisters Ella (19 not out) and Chloe (15 not out) combining later in the innings for the Lightning with support from opener Emma Uebergang (14, dismissed twice) to see them reach 108.
When it was the Belles turn to bat, captain Fitzpatrick provided great entertainment for the spectators scoring 53 off her 21 balls, including 10 boundaries, with only one dot ball.
During her innings she was well supported by Holmes-Brown (16, three dismissals) who worked to keep Fitzpatrick on strike, and then continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Bridie Reid (13 dismissed once).
After the early Fitzpatrick onslaught, the Lightning were able to turn the tables on the Belles, producing three stunning direct hits in the field, two from Ella Moloney and one from Zara Nicholls.
Chloe Moloney (1-6 off 2 overs) and Sophie Pietsch (1-9 off 3 overs) hit the timber twice during their spells as the Lightning claimed a season best five wickets for the innings.
However, it wasn't enough to stop the Belles with Abby Griffiths striking the ball well in her 23 (one dismissal) and Bourke (15 not out) closing the innings well to see the Belles finish on 159.
Horsham Sixers 4-47 def by Wimmera Roos 3-111
On the neighbouring Dimboola turf wicket, the Wimmera Roos won the toss and elected to field.
The decision was justified as the bowling unit produced its best performance of the competition, bowling with great control and energy and restricting all the Sixers batters.
No batter was able to break free during the innings with Lilly Reading and Lucy Avery top scoring with 6 not out.
For the Roos, Lilly Schorback claimed the best figures with 3-3 off her four overs, Ruby James the other wicket taker with 1-5 off 3 overs.
The Sixers protected their wickets valiantly but were unable to hurt the Roos on the scoreboard, finishing their innings on 47.
Early wickets were always going to be the key for the Sixers, so when debutant Pippa Denham struck with her second ball in the fifth over the innings, the Sixers had a chance with the Roos on 24.
But Ava Clark with a season best 19 not out had other ideas as she combined with Paige Glover (16 not out), Isobelle Schorback (15, dismissed once) and Maya Schorback (12 not out) to see the Roos home, finishing their innings on 111.
The wicket takers for the Sixers were Danielle Grainger (1-9 off 3 overs), Pippa Denham (1-15 off 3 overs) and Aleece Beddison (1-19 off 3 overs)
After the completion of the games a presentation ceremony was held on the Turf oval. It was noted that all players had showed improvement over the duration of the tournament.
The Wimmera Mallee Belles were awarded the inaugural winners of the competition after going through undefeated. Each player received a medallion and the team was presented with the Wimmera Girls Cricket Premiership Cup.
The next season of Wimmera Girls Cricket was announced to take place in November 2020. More details to be provided in due course.
