By Margit Cruice
It was a nail-biting finish to the home and away season of the Tier 1 Women’s Cricket competition on the Sunshine Coast. Playing at home, local team Cooroy Eumundi needed to secure the win against Caloundra who could have pushed them out of the top four. In hot, steamy conditions Cooroy won the toss and elected to field first. Amanda Tie led the bowling taking two wickets in her second over. Young guns Alison Lindsay and Carys Underwood, both only 13 years old, both bowled superbly as opener and first change helping to keep the score down. The fielding was outstanding, holding catches and diving to save fours, showing what a long way this team has come in one season. An unassisted runout by wicketkeeper, Kat Anderson, removed Caloundra’s danger player captain Amy Bock. Caloundra were bowled out in the 27th over for 93. Best of the bowlers were Amanda Tie 4/22, Margit Cruice 2/9, Carys Underwood 2/29 and Alison Lindsay 1/14.
As the day continued to heat up, Cooroy set about getting the job done and scoring the runs. Openers Margit Cruice (23) and Fiona Gardiner (16) managed an opening partnership of 35. A very determined Amanda Tie (20) helped to build the score. At 3/80 with 10 overs to go, a win looked in order, however, a small collapse had the women feeling very nervous at 7/90. In a match that really had everything, Petrina McAulay steadied the ship and then hit a beautiful shot that saw her running a two for the winning runs with Rebel Seymour. As the women cheered on the sideline, the umpire called a short run, leaving Cooroy one more run to win. It wasn’t an ideal way to finish, but when the Caloundra bowler, bowled a wide the real cheering began. It was a fantastic win that now sees the Cooroy-Eumundi women’s team playing in the semi-finals next weekend. A terrific effort in the first year the club has fielded a women’s team.
