By Tara Murray
Sydenham-Hillside has claimed back-to-back Victorian Turf Cricket Association women’s T20 titles.
The best side all season, the Storm showed their composure when they needed it in the grand final, to beat Westmeadows for a second season.
Storm captain-coach Catherine Morrow said it was a wonderful achievement to claim another premiership.
“It’s fantastic for the girls that have worked really hard,” she said.
“To go back-to-back is a massive achievement for the side and I’m so happy for them.”
The Storm didn’t get the win without a fight, as the Warriors took it right up to them.
The Storm made 4-84 off their 20 overs after being sent in. Morrow said it was slightly below the target they had set.
“We wanted to make at least 90,” she said.
“We’d been sent in on a quite damp pitch from the morning dew and the balls were keeping low.
“We ended up having the runs on the board and they had to do the chasing. Going at just over four an over we thought we would be able to hold them.”
Brooke Todero was the standout with the bat, batting from the start through to the 16th over, making 30.
Maryann Marsh, Kerry Scandolera and Nikita Chaudhary all contributed.
Storm’s opening bowlers did the job early to put the side in the box seat.
In need of runs, the Warriors lost frequent wickets and were bowled out for 72.
“Our opening bowlers Hannah Brne and Holly Nagpal kept it really tight. They bowled the first eight overs and the Warriors were about 1-15,” Morrow said.
“We made it hard for them it got to over two runs a ball. We took wickets at crucial times.”
Morrow was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Chaudhary and Marsh took two wickets each.
Todero was named player of the match.
Morrow, who was the standout for the side this season, said it was good to see new players come into the side and have an impact straight away.
“It’s a fantastic group,” she said.
“We have 16 players in the group and everyone played a role even if they didn’t in this match, they helped get us here.”
Morrow said after two premierships in their first two seasons, they were already keen to start planning for next season.
She said they were keen to continue to the success they have had so far.
“We’ll sit down in the off season and start thinking about next year and where we want to go,” Morrow said.
“We’d like to recruit a few more players and have a second side. There’s a lot of young talent coming through, along with a few older heads.”
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