Geelong Cricket Club won the Marg Jennings Cup on Tuesday with its team of star Under 15 girls claiming the trophy after a fascinating final against Prahran at Kardinia Park.
The Cats started slowly after Prahran elected to bat first, but clawed their way back once the dangerous Anushka Mehta (59) was dismissed. Geelong captain April Chaudhary picked up two wickets early on.
The introduction of Erin Moloney turned the game around. She took a superb 4/22 from eight overs to help restrict Prahran to 8/166 from 40 overs.
Chaudhary (31) and Clover McIlwaine (25) got Geelong off to a great start with the bat, putting on 62 for the opening wicket.
However, at 5/98 the Cats needed a partnership and came through keeper Aria Huby (10) and Poppy Agg who added a further 25.
Agg (32) and Lily Shand (21 not out) then took Geelong to within two runs of victory with three balls left. Agg’s terrific knock ended when she was bowled by pace bowler Anna Burgon, leaving the game up for grabs for either side.
A tie was enough for Geelong to claim the title given it finished on top of the table and Shand called Clio Cameron through for a bye off the penultimate ball of the final over to equal the scores.
Shand then played and missed at the final ball, but Cameron scampered through for another bye to give Geelong the win by one run on the final ball of the 40th over.
Geelong’s Under 16 boys are through to the Dowling Shield final against Melbourne after defeating Fitzroy Doncaster.
The Cats made 9/253 batting first with openers Henry Hatswell (52) and Hamish Craig (46) putting on a 103-run stand.
Charlie Mahncke made a run a ball 42 while Riley McLure (28) and Riley Illingworth (26) played well.
Fitzroy Doncaster gave the chase a good shake, but fell eight runs short after 50 overs with Craig (3/45) capping off an outstanding all-round game.
The final is at Junction Oval against St Kilda on Thursday January 23.
