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Pathway Champions are revealed

February 25, 2013
Pathway Champions are revealed

Central Highlands won a thrilling final at the Under-18 Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships at the MCG yesterday.

With the match going down to the final ball, the Highlands claimed a two-run victory over South East Bayside Breakers, with player-of-the-final, Josh Tong, claiming 5-26 to ensure the region’s first triumph in the competition.

Earlier in the day, Gippsland Pride snared its second title of the 2012-13 VicSpirit Pathway Championships, winning the Under-18 division thanks to an inspired bowling performance against South East Metro.  

Batting first, the Pride appeared in trouble when star batters Chelsea Moscript (15) and Georgia Fisher (11) were both run out, lurching at 6-55 at one stage.

A strong recovery lead by Beth Serong (19) pushed the run rate above five, as the Pride scratched their way to 9-105 from their 20 overs.

The total looked under threat when Charlotte Killeen (25) and Ellie Hearne (nine) pushed the Metro score to 1-48 before the introduction of spin began to turn the game for the Pride.

Despite not claiming a wicket, Moscript confirmed her player-of-the-final performance with 0-6 from her four overs, pushing the required run rate past six per over.

The run out of VicSpirit rookie Alana King, the player-of-the-series, reduced Metro to 4-52, a position they would never recover from.

Metro was eventually restricted to 8-69 from their 20 overs, with Nicole Halford finishing with game best figures of 2-3.

Pride co-coach Ian Rossborough praised his charges’ ability to play as a team, which he believes allowed them to win the tight matches.

“We bat right down the order; today seven, eight and nine were the ones to push that run rate up which we always had confidence they could do,” Rossborough said.

“It has been a long time since our last game in December, but the girls came through today and played really well in a tight game.”

In the Under-18 Victorian Bushrangers Pathway Championships, the Highlands got off to a blazing start after being sent in, with Australian under-19 representative Matt Short wasting no time to stamp his authority on the contest.

Short blasted 38 before he was dismissed with a half-century in sight at 2-69.

Victorian under-17 captain Patrick McKenna then went about captailising on the good start, pushing the total towards 150, before he was dismissed for 58.

A mid-order collapse ensued, with the Breakers restricting the Highlands to just 19 runs between overs 35 and 45, orchestrated by Mathew Davis who finished with 3-45.

Late hitting from Jackson Dark (26*) and Grant Trevenan (19), ensured the Highlands would post a defendable 7-203 from their 50 overs.

A direct hit run-out to Short, and the crucial wicket of Will Agar, saw the Breakers struggling at 2-2 after four overs.

This brought skipper Peter Cassidy and Jack O’Toole to the crease to forge what would be the partnership of the match.

The 115-run stand was only broken when O’Toole was bowled for a superb run-a-ball 70, an innings that put his team within reach of the championship.

The Highlands spin attack then came to the fore, with Tong taking his first three wickets to put the game back on an even keel.

The Breakers would require a-run-a-ball from the last eight overs, with left-arm spinner Jarrod Vernon becoming the Highlands’ ninth bowler used.

The dismissal of Cassidy for 50 meant the tail would need to obtain the runs, and with the downfall of Josh Slater for 31, the final over was set up for a fitting finale.

Needing 11 from the final six deliveries, Josh Tong took his fifth wicket, ensuring the Breakers would need a boundary from the final ball.

It wasn’t to be, a run out to McKenna sealing the Breakers’ fate, with the Highlanders securing what would be a memorable win.

Central Highlands Regional Cricket Manager Campbell Waring said the victory was extra sweet after coming so close on previous occasions.

“I’m just really happy for the boys. A lot of these guys have been in the program for six years, and they really deserve it,” Waring said.

“Winning today is going to give a lot of credence to the program at a community level. Being seen as an Under-18 state champion will be a great way to promote the game in outlying rural areas.”

The country regions enjoyed another win on Sunday, with South East Shark William Crowder rewarded for his stellar carnival by receiving the player-of-the-series award for his 184 runs and seven wickets.

To see full results from the Under-18 Victorian Bushrangers and VicSpirit Pathway Championships, click here.

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