GMC was all smiles after taking the first wicket in its clash with Cricket Shepparton. Photos: Matthew Kappos.
The Goulburn Murray Cricket Women’s intra-league clash was held last Friday, January 31, the best of the competition’s GMC teams taking on an all-star squad from traditional Cricket Shepparton sides.
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In a great showcase for the strength of the women’s competition, there was plenty of great quality cricket played at Victoria Park, the day-night T20 fixture getting under way at 6pm.
Alice Caldow opened the bowling with a pacey spell.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
“It was one of the best games of cricket I've been involved in,” GMC and Echuca captain Jess Cox said.
“From our end, the GMC just gelled really well from the start, and it was just a lot of fun to be a part of.
“The standard of cricket was next level.”
Sophie Ullah (right) gives Mel Saunders the inside scoop before her innings.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Having won the toss, GMC, featuring players from Echuca, Rochester, Bamawm-Lockington United and Cooma, elected to bat first.
Victorian Premier Cricketer Alice Caldow (Rochester) opened the batting along with 2023-24 grand final best-on-ground Maisy Byrne (Echuca), and the pair set a good platform for GMC’s innings.
Breanna Baker was a useful boundary hitter late in GMC’s innings.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Caldow showed particular intent, knocking around ones and twos with regularity while finding the occasional boundary in the 49-run opening stand.
Byrne supported Caldow well but was eventually felled on 11 to end the partnership.
Bella Woods took 1-21.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Caldow retired on 35 from her 30 deliveries, and Cricket Shepparton looked to use the opportunity to slow the GMC surge.
After losing captain Cox cheaply, Chloe Moyle and Bree Styles kept things ticking over for a time until Moyle (17) lost her wicket to Poppy Vandermeer.
Sophie McDonald sends one back from the deep.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
GMC was 4-28 after losing Styles shortly after, but some late boundary hitting from Breanna Baker (17 not-out) helped GMC post 5-103 from its 20 overs in the middle.
Charlie Nicholson (2-23) was the only Cricket Shepparton bowler to take multiple wickets, Vandermeer, Gemma Boyd and Bella Woods chipping in with one each.
The CS chase got into early trouble as GMC was able to snag a couple of quick wickets.
Cathy Dervish and Jess Cox celebrate Dervish's wicket in her opening over.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Sophie Ullah (5) was the first batter to depart, picking out Cadence Major at cover off Caldow’s bowling.
Cathy Dervish quickly made an impact when she was called on, removing Mel Saunders in her first over to reduce CS to 2-16.
A tidy piece of caught-and-bowled work from Chloe Moyle proved the end of Gemma Boyd, and CS looked like it may fall well short of the total.
Kayla Shepard, who had witnessed all three wickets from the other end, was Moyle’s second victim, gone for 15.
Alice Caldow assesses her field before her next delivery.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Ebony Sleeth’s introduction to the middle helped to keep the chase alive, as she managed to hold her ground and tick the scoreboard over for 21 runs before her retirement.
Ultimately though, GMC’s attack proved too skilled for CS on the day, a couple more quick wickets in the middle overs hamstringing the visitor’s efforts as it concluded its innings at 7-93, 10 short of the target.
Moyle (2-12) grabbed two wickets to lead GMC, while Caldow, Dervish, Sophie Good and Amy Fitzgerald all made breakthroughs.
Taya Munroe is struck on the pad.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Cox was quick to heap praise on all her teammates, particularly pleased with how the side was able to get everyone involved on the night.
“(Good) to be able to get the win, but then also make sure that everybody either batted or bowled,” she said.
“To be able to have that equal opportunity across the board I think that was really special for us because you can't always fit that in in a T20 game.”
Chloe Moyle showed quick reflexes to take a caught-and-bowled for GMC.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The unique format splits the competition, usually amalgamated under the GMC banner, back along traditional GMC and Cricket Shepparton lines.
This is the first year back for the representative format after years on the shelf, and Cox had plenty good to say about the fixture.
“You can iron out the little things as we go on for next time, but to get it up and running I think it's a credit to the GMC because it's something that the girls really looked forward to,” she said.
“I remember everyone saying they’re just really excited to be a part of it.”
Two representative fixtures were scheduled for the season but the first, set down for Mooroopna on December 6, was washed out.
Cox sees a strong future for the format and hopes the league goes even further with it in future seasons.
“I'd love to see there be a bye round, and potentially it be a one-day or a two-day game,” she said.
“I get why it was a T20, but in future, it would be nice to see the game go for longer so that the girls can bat for longer.”
Regular GMC matches continue with 35-over matches on Sunday as Cox’s Echuca takes on Kyabram, while Moama has the bye.
The Game
Goulburn Murray Cricket 5-103 (Alice Caldow 35 retired not out, Charlie Nicholson 2-23) defeated Cricket Shepparton7-93 (Ebony Sleeth 21 retired not out, Chloe Moyle 2-12)
