Victoria break 11-year streak to claim U18 title

Victoria’s arduously long wait for the Betty Butcher Shield has finally come to an end today in the Under 18 National Championships in Canberra.

After four previously failed attempts in a row – all to New South Wales Metropolitan – the Victorians finally broke the hoodoo and in doing so broke an 11-year-streak held by their opponents.

As was much the case for the tournament, it was Melbourne Renegades-listed players Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux who dominated the final, Wareham taking 3-31 in addition to her unbeaten-40 whilst Molineux compiled yet another half-century.

Molineux’s 59 in the final boosted her tally to 375 runs at an average of 62.5, putting her more than 150 runs ahead of the next highest run-scorer and cementing her spot as ‘Player of the Championships’.

While Wareham’s leg-spin yielded her a tournament-high 16 wickets at an average of 8.69 including a devastating spell of 6-16 from ten overs against Queensland, her efforts in the Grand Final also earning her ‘Player of the Final’, just edging out her team captain.

Cricket Australia’s Female Pathway Manager Shawn Flegler was ecstatic with the way the tournament ran and the performances of the week, so much so that one player earned a spot in the inaugural Governor-General’s XI to take on the Indian Women.

“This competition is a direct feeder into the state and national women’s competitions and there is no doubt we will see some of these girls take the next step,” Flegler said.

“We have seen this week alone Sophie Molineux included in the Governor-General’s XI to take on a Indian Women’s XI in Drummoyne, a great reward for an excellent Under 18s tournament.

“Each of our current Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have come through the Australian Cricket Pathway and we expect to see many of these Under 18 girls to follow in their footsteps.”

Other standout performances included Tasmania’s Zoe Lowry who claimed 6-24 against the Cricket Australia XI, her teammate Courtney Webb who ran through Queensland with 5-19 and Victoria’s Hope Irvine who plundered an unbeaten-76 in a win against South Australia.

2015/16 was also only the second time in 20 attempts where Victoria have lifted the trophy, for more information, visit www.nationalchamps.com.au.