WESTERN Waves’ all-conquering under 14 girls secured back-to-back state championships yesterday.
The Waves were never troubled during the three-day tournament in Melbourne, smashing every team in their path.
Like the opponents that came before, Mallee Murray Heat was no match for the Waves in the grand final at Chelsworth Park in Ivanhoe yesterday afternoon.
The Heat won the toss and opted to bat but quickly melted to 2-17.
However, a respectable 41-run partnership for the third wicket from Makinley Blows (30no) and Luca Gallo (16) lifted Murray Mallee’s total to 3-80.
The Waves were best served by bowlers Rosie Wynd (1-12), Claire Nolte (1-5) and Madi Ratcliffe (1-20).
Victorious coach Will Collins said his side was more than confident of reaching the Heat’s target as the Waves’ lowest knock for the week was 120.
“We thought we were a big shot at chasing that down,” he said.
“Our bowlers did a great job. They played six games in three days, which is very tiring, but they stood up every time.”
The economical Waves surrendered just four wickets in their winning chase.
Consistent opener Ratcliffe retired with 41, while first-drop Nolte “ran herself out” for 16.
The Waves hit 4-81 with seven overs to spare.
“We got off to a shaky start when we lost Georgia Wareham in the first over,” Collins said.
“But Madi and Claire put together a solid partnership.”
Yesterday’s triumph marked the third title for the Western Waves program.
“They’re thrilled to win it,” Collins said. “It’s been a fantastic week. They’ve been consistent every game.
“Last year they averaged 70 or 80 runs a match so I didn’t really know what to expect coming in. But they batted awesome every day and the bowlers were fantastic as well.”
Earlier in the day, the Waves 5-126 (Wareham 40 retired not out) defeated South East Sharks 8-78 in the preliminary final.
Meanwhile, the Waves under 16s could not sustain their unbeaten run when they played Gippsland Pride at Melbourne University yesterday.
The Pride elected to bat and dashed to 9-104 after 25 overs. Mortlake’s Zoe Tarbolton took three wickets, while Patchewollock’s Lauren McLean, Hawkesdale’s Grace Linke and Woolsthorpe’s Kelsey Perry took two each.
Any plans of chasing the target were eliminated when the Waves openers were dismissed to be 2-1.
Second-drop Linke witnessed the top-order collapse and had to go it alone as her teammates continued to fall for single figures around her.
The Waves were 5-18 after five overs and 6-34 after 10.
They were all out for 47 after 15.4 overs.
Earlier yesterday, the under 16 Waves defeated South East Sharks in the preliminary final. The Waves were sent in to bat and made 2-143 (Linke 46no, Lauren McLean 42) before restricting the Sharks to 5-99 (Gemma Gibbons 2-15).
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