Campbelltown Camden Ghosts could end up with some terrific silverware thanks to a brilliant semi final victory by the women’s first grade team.
The Ghosts women overcame a determined St George to qualify for the Cricket NSW season decider this Sunday at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Campbelltown Camden will take on a classy, experienced Gordon in the decider, which will also showcase some of Australia’s best female cricketing talent.
Despite missing star all-rounder Hannah Darlington to the Australian Under 19s tour of New Zealand, it is hoped that Australian Southern Star Belinda Vakarewa will recover from a side strain and take the field for the Ghosts.
Play will start from 10am.
Ghosts, who finished as minor premiers, won the toss and invited St George to bat first in yesterday semi final at Raby.
The visitors got off to a good start nullifying a tremendous opening spell of bowling from the Ghosts Australian representative Lauren Cheatle.
St George lost their first wicket with the score at 40 when Stephanie Ellsmore pulled off a fine diving catch at mid-off from the bowling of leg spinner Yardley Poslen.
Indeed exceptional catching by the locals was the highlight of the morning session.
Lauren Cheatle was safe as a bank catching in the outfield, while Kellie Rowling’s snare at cover and a brilliant one-handed diving catch to Isabella Greig at short extra cover had spectators on their feet.
At one stage the visitors were 3-107 and looking at a 200 plus total, but consistency from the Ghosts bowlers at the back end of the innings restricted them to 179 runs.
Spinners Clara Iemma and Yardley Polsen both claimed two wickets each.
The Ghosts chase started with the formidable Claire Koski leading the charge.
Koski, who has spent more time in the middle of Raby #1 in recent times than the greenkeepers, backed up her morning’s fine effort with the ball (1/12), with another dominant innings.
She was finally caught behind with the job all but done and the score at 3/151.
Koski, who added 65 runs to her recent totals of 103 not out and 86 not out, was well supported by skipper Hannah Trethewy as the pair compiled 48 runs for the second wicket after Clara Iemma was caught and bowled for 13.
Playing with composure, Koski and Trethewy set a platform for NSW Under 18 bat Dharmini Chauhan to play a controlled innings of 44 runs.
Chauhan and Koski added 84 runs to set up the win with five overs to spare.
- The Ghosts men’s first grade ended up with the wooden spoon after losing on the weekend to Sydney at Drummoyne Oval in the final round of the Sydney Premier Cricket 2018-19 season.
