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Lara Graham and Jess Davidson’s contributions with the bat weren’t enough as their ACT/NSW Country side stumbled on day two of the Female Under-18 National Championships.
After being unbeaten on day one, they lost both their Twenty20 games.
An unconquered knock from Davidson wasn’t enough first-up against Queensland as they chased down ACT/NSW Country’s 5-136 with two balls to spare.
Coming in at 3-71 she struck 35no off 27 balls in a dig that included three fours.
Davidson struck 35no off 27 balls in a dig that included three fours to lift ACT/NSW Country to 5-136 off their 20 overs in their third round clash with Queensland.
Coming in at 3-71 after they were 2-24, Davidson continued the rebuild with Anika Learoyd (36), the pair putting on 35 for the fourth wicket. She then added 23 for the fifth with Hannah Faux.
They then had Queensland in early trouble at 2-11 but they rallied through their middle order to pass ACT/NSW Country’s total with two balls to spare.
There was little joy for the ACT/NSW Country bowlers with only two picking up wickets. They were though effective in the field with the other four wickets run-outs.
Davidson finished with 0-22 off her 3.4 overs while Graham bowled just the one for 0-10.
After starring on day one with the ball, Graham stepped up with the bat against NSW Metro hitting 30 off 31 as ACT/NSW Country scrambled to 9-128.
They then picked up an early wicket but from there NSW Metro were untroubled passing their total with three overs and seven wickets in hand.
After a rest day on Wednesday they will face Victoria Country and Tasmania on Thursday.
Currently sitting second in their pool, should they win both they should qualify for the semi-finals.
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DAY ONE
In a low-scoring round one affair they scraped to a two wicket victory against Victoria Metro.
Batting first, it seemed as if Metro had built a solid platform early as openers Tess Flintoff and Katia Jomini saw off the opening bowlers and put on 38 for the first wicket.
However, once Flintoff was dismissed by all rounder Learoyd for 19 the wheels fell off for the Victorians as they suffered an incredible collapse.
Led by Learoyd (2-8), Alison McGrath (2-8) and Graham (2-5), Metro lost their ten wickets for a staggering 27 runs with nobody apart from the opening pair managing to get past five.
Graham, whose two wickets came in her solitary over, also assisted with a run-out while Davidson took the catch for the initial breakthrough.
Bowling at first change she finished with 0-8 from her two.
ACT/NSW Country were under early pressure in their run chase but the middle order got the run chase back on track.
At 4-57 they had a brief stumble losing 4-6 but McGrath backed up her excellent bowling performance to hit the winning runs with an over to spare.
Coming in at five, Davidson played a key role in the middle order revival. She was the second wicket to fall in their late collapse for a steady 10 off 21.
They did it a lot more comfortably against Northern Territory in the afternoon’s round of matches cruising to an eight-wicket win.
NT made a positive start with the bat, reaching 54 before opener Jessica Bradley (33) was dismissed.
Following on from her efforts in the first game Graham claimed 3-14, her first wicket putting the skids in the NT innings as they lost 6-8 to be restricted to 7-103.
McGrath also chimed in with 3-5.
Led by opener Sarah Young who scored an impressive 59 off 49 balls including seven fours, and Learoyd (15no) ACT/NSW Country chased down the runs with six overs to go.
Davidson and Graham weren’t required to bat.
