Southern Spirit teams defeated

Southern Spirit's First Grade and Women's teams were both defeated in their respective Central Coast Cricket Association competitions last weekend.

In round eight of the First Grade, the Spirit faced The Entrance at Jubilee Park.

"Taking to the crease first, The Entrance's Adam Taylor laid the platform for their win, followed by Marc Mariner, who finished the job with The Entrance scoring an imposing 4/242 off their 40 overs," said Central Coast Cricket Association publicity officer Mr Garry Burkinshaw.

"Taylor was excellent at the top passing 50 for the first time this year and was unlucky not to reach his century being dismissed for 98.

"Mariner on the other hand, has been a revelation for the Gulls in the one-day format and his unbeaten innings of 81 included six deliveries which cleared the ropes as well as five fours.

"Veteran Ash Hardy also chipped in with 33," Mr Burkinshaw said.

"Simon Mahoney was the most successful Spirit bowler with two wickets as skipper, Daniel Friend used eight bowlers in an attempt to quell the runs.

"Southern Spirit's run chase never really got started and they slumped to 8/88 before Zane Smith and Ben Orman joined forces.

"The pair, through sensible and positive batting, put together a partnership of 96 runs for the ninth wicket before Smith, with a century in touching distance, was dismissed for an excellent 98 which included eight fours and five sixes.

"Orman followed shortly thereafter for a determined 28 which saw the innings close at 189," Mr Burkinshaw said.

The Spirit's round six clash against Northern Power Orange in the Women's T20 could well be remembered as the match of the competition so far, with both sides undefeated heading onto the field, he said.

Mr Burkinshaw said that the Orange's dynamic batting, led by Rebecca Callan and Karen Mander, proved to be the Spirit's undoing, with the Orange taking the match by 57 runs.

"Winning the toss and batting first, Callan and Mander were destructive from the start, with both players putting on 50 runs before retiring.

"They were able to return later to finish off the innings with Callan finishing unbeaten on 87 runs, scored off 36 balls with 13 fours and 4 sixes, whilst Manader was equally as brutal, scoring an unbeaten 65 off 26 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes.

"Joanne Farr also chipped in with 23 in the middle order.

"The Orange side finished with 6/190 off their 20 overs," Mr Burkinshaw said.

"It was a tough day for the Spirit bowlers, however, Nicole Cattley managed to take 3/25 off her four overs.

"Southern Spirit were gallant in the chase, even after losing key batter Bethany Leggett who was run out by Callan early, finishing on 6/133 at the end of their allotted overs.

"Cattley rounded out an excellent game finishing 50 not out with Leisel Collins 37 and Grace Stockwell 24 not out also figuring prominently with the bat.

"Mander duly claimed player of the match honours with 3/10 off four overs," Mr Burkinshaw said.

The First Grade will host Terrigal for their round nine clash.

The Women's side will have a bye for round seven.

Source:

Media releases, 17 and 18 Nov 2019

Garry Burkinshaw, CCCA