Pride fall short of MCG final on run rate

Gippsland Pride’s under 18 girls cricket team has agonisingly missed qualifying for the state championship final on net run rate.

All local cricketers made a strong contribution to the Pride’s campaign, which saw them win their first four games to give themselves every chance of qualifying for the final, which will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in February.

Trafalgar’s Nicole Faltum was captain of the side, which included Bunyip batter Miranda Knight, Jindivick’s Jessica Sanders, Hallora cricketer Maddison Cavigan and Warragul sisters Erin and Courtney MacFarlane.

The team also included PoowongLoch player Courtney Walker.

Victory in the final Twenty/20 match would have assured the Pride a place in the final, but East Select were too strong to inflict the Pride’s only defeat for the championship.

Nicole Faltum made an unbeaten 44, while Miranda Knight made 23 at the top of the order to help the Pride to 6/117.

Jessica Sanders took an early wicket but from there East Select chased it down with ease, relegating the Pride to third on net run rate.

The Pride won its opening two Twenty/20 matches, Nicole Faltum making an impact with bat, striking an unbeaten 74.

She had support from Miranda Knight, who made 45 to help the Pride post 2/145.

Warragul cricketers Erin and Courtney MacFarlane returned the figures of 3/8 and 1/6 respectively, while Jessica Sanders of Jindivick started well with the new ball to take 2/2.

They ensured that Central Highlands finished well short of the target at 8/79.

The Pride also scored a big win in the round two match against Western Waves.

Having restricted the Waves to 7/101, the Pride went on to post 6/161 from their 20 overs, with Maddison Cavigan retiring on 19, while Courtney Walker made an unbeaten 13 at a run a ball.

The Pride made it three wins from three as the tournament moved to 40 over cricket on Wednesday.

Jessica Sanders, Courtney Walker and Courtney MacFarlane were amongst the wickets again as the Pride restricted Northern Rivers to 72.

The Pride found the going tough in the run chase, but Nicole Faltum held it together with an unbeaten 46 to get the Gippsland team over the line.

Cricket returned to Twenty/20 contests on Thursday, with the Pride scoring a big win over West Select to set up a tilt at qualifying for the final.

Nicole Faltum again led the charge with the bat, striking 81 in the Pride’s 4/131.

West Select could only manage 7/94 in reply, Jessica Sanders and Courtney Walker leading the way with 3/11 and 2/9 respectively.