Tara Murray
There were twice the celebrations for Westmeadows Cricket Club with both of its women’s sides claiming premierships.
The club’s top side made it back-to-back premierships, claiming the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket north-west B title.
Its second side, which plays in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, claimed its first premiership, winning the division 4 title.
Warriors’ captain-coach Danielle Linton said it was a special day for the club.
“It was really good,” she said.
“It’s been three premierships in four years for the club and I couldn’t be prouder. From where we were when we first started to where the club is now, it’s a credit to everyone.”
This season was an unknown for the top side, which changed competitions. Having made three grand finals and claiming one premiership playing in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, the club decided it was time for a new challenge.
Linton said they were happy to win just one match but they soon had to raise their expectations.
“We had been in the VTCA for a little while and they didn’t have many teams,” she said.
“We decided to broaden our horizons to test ourselves a bit more and see where we are at as a team and players.
“We didn’t know how we would go. We started to win a few games and thought s*** we can do this.”
The Warriors faced Craigieburn in the grand final. The one match between the two teams this season, was decided in the final over.
Batting first, Westmeadows was bowled out for 90 in the 33rd over.
Kailey O’Donnell top scored with 17.
Tracy Armstrong was the pick of the bowlers for Craigieburn, taking 4-19.
Linton admits they would have liked more runs on the board, but having chased down low totals on several occasions this season they were still confident.
The Warriors got an added boost as they went out to bowl, with news coming through that the second side had claimed the premiership.
“We were getting updates throughout,” Linton said.
“We got excited for them when we heard they had won. We were up and about and we spoke about wanting to use their excitement when they returned to the ground, when we were on the field.”
Linton said the key moment for them while bowling was getting the wicket of Craigieburn captain Litara Va’auli.
Va’auli had made 39 when she went out, leaving the Eagles 26 runs short of victory.
“Had their captain stayed in, it would have been a completely different story,” Linton said.
“Her wicket was pretty important for us. When it happened [the wicket] it took the tension out of the game.”
The Eagles finished 9-85.
Linton was the pick of the bowlers taking 4-17. She was named player of the match.
For Linton it caps off a successful return from a serious knee injury. While she played last season, she was limited in what she could do.
“I would have liked to have done more with the bat, but I made up with the ball. The other bowlers were unlucky not to get more wickets.
“This season I got back to the player I was before my knee injury.”
The second XI also had a thriller in its final, hitting the winning runs in the final over.
Oak Park made 2-128 from its overs, with Katrina Logan the single wicket taker.
The Warriors finished 2-129, with the winning runs hit with five balls remaining.
Melissa Robinson top scored with 27 not out.
Linton said premierships weren’t the only successes of the program. She said some of the younger players were looking to test themselves at a higher level next season.
