Auckland girls go unbeaten at nationals
The future of women’s cricket in Auckland looks to be in fine shape.
The Auckland U15 Hearts returned from the Cricket Express Nationals in Whanganui last week with an unblemished record, picking up six wins from six games.
Auckland’s manager Khusboo Patel said that while the team weren’t expecting to win it all, they went in with a strong chance.
‘‘The main thing we wanted was to go in and beat Central Districts,’’ Patel said.
And they did just that, trumping last year’s champions and tournament favourites with an impressive seven-wicket victory in the final.
Cornwall Cricket Club’s Amie Hucker was a standout for the young Auckland side, finishing as the team’s top run scorer and wicket taker.
A high score of 50 not out, the tournament’s second highest single total, against the NZ Invitational U15 Girls helped her side into the top position.
And she was just as impressive with ball in hand, picking up 11 wickets over the six matches, including figures of 4/12 against a strong Otago outfit.
‘‘Obviously we wanted to win, but it was a bit unexpected,’’ Hucker said.
Her bowling partner at the other end, Marama Downes from the Howick-Pakuranga Cricket Club, also chimed in to help create a lethal opening attack.
‘‘The biggest reason we came out as strong as we did was because of our opening partnership,’’ Patel said.
‘‘Obviously Amie shone with the ball, but our pair of opening bowlers were unbeatable at that tournament.’’
Hucker said the pace variance between the two bowlers helped trick opposition batsman and allowed her and her partner to pick up key wickets early.
Three girls from the Auckland side made the tournament’s select XI - Hucker, Downes, and Emily Thurman from Cornwall Cricket Club.
Patel was also quick to praise youngster Emma Irwin, 12, from the Parnell Cricket Club, who received Auckland’s Most Improved Player award, taking 8 wickets and averaging 26 with the bat.
‘‘For a 12-year-old to be our most improved player at an U15 tournament, to carry us through a few games where it really mattered - she was our anchor.’’