Tournament winner: Epsom Girls Grammar School
Tournament MVP: Bella Armstrong, Epsom Girls Grammar School
Final Points: Epsom Girls Grammar School 10, St Hilda’s Collegiate 8, Tauranga Girls’ College 4, Christchurch Girls’ High School 4, New Plymouth Girls’ High School 2, Tawa College 0
Round Four:
Epsom Girls Grammar School 144-5 (Bella Armstrong 85*, E Carson 2-15) beat St Hilda’s Collegiate 125-8 (E Carson 29*, J Patel 3-16), Manawaroa Park
This was the battle that most had been waiting for. St Hilda’s the defending championships with 10 players back from last years title team playing against Epsom Girls from Auckland who have been setting the pace. Epsom won the toss on Manawaroa Park and chose to bat first. To ensure a achievable target St Hilda’s needed to knock over the productive top four of Epsom. They managed three of those, but the key wicket of Bella Armstrong eluded them and an innings of 85* off 44 balls with 11 boundaries and 3 sixes allowed Epsom to post an excellent total of 144. In reply, despite St Hilda’s top order all getting starts they ere always behind the eight ball and despite some late hitting from Eden Caron 29* off 19 balls it wasn’t enough, and St Hilda’s fell 19 runs short. Epsom have one hand on the trophy while St Hilda’s will now need an upset in the final round to be able to retain the title they won in 2016.
Round Three:
Epsom Girls Grammar 161-3 (B Armstrong 72, G Adams 42) beat Tawa College 107-2 (K Fenton 33), Fitzherbert Park 1
Epsom Girls won the toss in their third match of the tournament against Tawa College and chose to bat. Epsom’s batting performances had been excellent so far in the tournament and this game was no different. Two fabulous innings from Bella Armstrong 72 off 57 and Gemma Adams 42 off 38 were just what Epsom needed to post a daunting total of 161 for Tawa College. In reply, Tawa College weren’t given the chance to get into their chase with excellent economical bowling from Epsom Girls. Having to score at more than 8 an over for the inning proved to be too much and despite some resolute batting eventually lost by 54 runs. Kate Fenton did here best to hold the innings together with 33 but it eventually proved to be in vain. Epsom set up an intriguing match against also unbeaten St Hilda’s in round four.
Round Two:
Epsom Girls Grammar 132-9 (M Coates 23*, K Mackle 2-15) beat New Plymouth Girls High School 49 all out off 16.2 overs (L Battin 2-9), Manawaroa Park
The team from Epsom Girls made a very impressive start to the tournament with a dominant victory in round one and sort to continue that momentum in round two. Epsom won the toss and chose to bat. The excellent start they had in game one didn’t repeat with New Plymouth Girls doing a great of restricting and picking up regular wickets. Mei Coates batting at 6 came to the rescue with a needed 23* keeping the tail of the batting line up in check and guiding them through to 132-9 from their 20 overs. This would prove to be enough with the young New Plymouth Girls dismissed for just 49 in 16.2 overs. Epsom showed their experience and applied the pressure to ensure New Plymouth never got into the game. Lydia Battin was the leading bowler for the Epsom with 2-9. Epsom complete day one with two wins while New Plymouth have some work to do in day two.
Round One:
Epsom Girls Grammar 194-4 (G Adams 55, B Armstrong 55) beat Christchurch Girls High School 88-8 (C Liddington 29, A Hucker 3-6), Fitzherbert Park 2
Epsom Girls Grammar School of Auckland took on Christchurch Girls High School on Fitzherbert Park 2. Both teams were looking to get their tournaments off to a good start and Christchurch Girls won the first contest of the game putting Epsom into bat. They may look back and regret that as Epsom enjoyed the opportunity to get a big total on the board. Despite an early wicket Epsom pushed the run rate through an excellent 131 run partnership between Bella Armstrong 55 and Gemma Adams who also scored 55. Some late hitting propelled Epsom to a commanding total of 194-4. Christchurch Girls made steady start to their innings but when their batman looked to accelerate towards Epsom’s total wickets fell. Outside of opening batsman Casey Liddington’s 29 there were few contributions and at the end of their 20 overs they only had 88 runs on the board meaning a win to Epsom by 106 runs. Epsom’s leading bowler was Amie Hucker with a very economical 3-6 off her four overs. A great start by Epsom and some work to do by Christchurch Girls.
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