Amy stars in Thunder win
THE Innisfail Thunder’s Ladies team will head to the Tablelands this weekend with a confidence-boosting win under their belts after upsetting ladder leader Norths.
The win at the Les Scheu Sports Reserve at Goondi was the team’s first of the season in the Cricket Far North Ladies February-March Twenty20 competition.
Thunder captain Sharon Bradford said it had given players a morale boost for the game against Mareeba.
“A win has put everyone on a huge high and ready to face Mareeba with so much confidence as they have dominated the ladies’ competition for the last three rounds,” she said.
Amy Hunter led the way for the Thunder with a solid allround performance taking three wickets and top scoring with the bat. She picked up a wicket (caught and bowled) in her first over, putting ladder leaders Norths under pressure early.
She went on to take another two scalps to finish with figures of 3-23 off four overs.
Norths bounced back quickly and posted 70 runs for their second-wicket partnership to set themselves a competitive total of 131 for the loss of six wickets off their 20 overs.
Thunder’s Alana Romano (1-28), Segumar Edwards (1-10) and Angela Williams (1-8) took the other three wickets.
Hunter opened the batting for Thunder and maintained her form, hitting 53 runs off 51 balls. After losing opening partner Edwards early, Hunter worked with Romano (28) for a 42-run second-wicket partnership.
The loss of Romano in the sixth over allowed for economic bowling from Norths, leading to a steady run chase from the Thunder’s middle and lower order with Dannielle Poidevin-Martin (8) and Bradford (15) batting patiently with Hunter to secure Innisfail the win in the 19th over.
Late cameos from Karri Keen and Glynis Romano helped the Thunder to 6-141 from their 20 overs.
Bradford said scoring became difficult after the loss of their second wicket but overall, players were happy with their performance.
“Balls that should have gone for four were pulling up,” she said. “Norths had a good spin bowler that was a bit hard for the girls to hit as there are not a lot of spin bowlers in the competition.
“As for Amy, as a team we couldn’t be more proud. We are all about encouragement and giving the younger ones opportunities and Amy stood up and shone.”
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