Metung Swan Reach made history claiming its first Bairnsdale Cricket Association women’s premiership defeating Lucknow in a high class match at AJ Freeman Reserve in Paynesville last Sunday.
It was a special day as the Paynesville Cricket Club hosted a Pink Stumps Day, with $2480.70 raised for the McGrath Foundation, an outstanding effort by organiser Katie Garth and her band of dedicated helpers.
The grounds and the clubrooms were sea of pink with the two Paynesville sides that were defeated in the semi final playing an exhibition match prior to the start of the grand final.
Both sides in the warm up game were suitably attired in pink shirts, as were Metung Swan Reach in the grand final, while Lucknow looked resplendent in pink caps.
Lucknow batted first and scored a respectable 186, with Lily Bastian impressing early with some telling boundary hitting, one straight drive she hit might well have been the best shot hit all weekend in East Gippsland.
The Swans were the best side all season and it showed in the middle overs where captain Abbey Wyatt, Sara Mirabella and Sheree Midson put the brakes on the scoring, restricting the Magpies when a 220-plus total looked likely.
Peta Bassett and Amelia Midson got the Swans off to a solid start in the run chase before the Magpies pegged some ground back in the second allocation of four overs.
But enter the match wildcard, Sheree Midson, whose lusty hitting included two huge sixes as the Metung Swan Reach set themselves up for victory, skipper Wyatt maintaining the momentum as the Swans cruised to 220 and victory.
Sheree Midson was awarded the Charlie and Nesta Owen Medal, adjudged the player of the match by the umpires on the day.
The day was a wonderful celebration of women’s cricket in the region, showcasing how far it has come in just two seasons, with plans to make the competition bigger and better next season.
