Have we found our team of the season?

The CD U15 Girls representative side have put the finishing touches on an outstanding week at the Under 15 Girls tournament in Whanganui, lifting the title undefeated.

CD had headed into this morning's Final at the annual tournament having taken convincing wins against all the other teams drawn from the five Major Association regions of New Zealand.

Coached by Central Hind JESS WATKIN and managed by team-mate KATE BAXTER in between their Dream11 Super Smash fixtures this week, CD U15 Girls met Canterbury's Christchurch XI for the 2020 title showdown at Whanganui Collegiate.

Christchurch won the toss and batted but a tally of 132 for eight proved no match for a form team that had dominated all week.

After a runout in just the second over of the day, Christchurch steadied the ship with a 78-run second-wicket partnership that was eventually broken in the 20th over by Gemma Lovewell.

From a platform of 81/2, Christchurch fell apart to finish eight down for 132 at the end of their allotted 30 overs, Lovewell, tournament MVP Aniela Apperley and Gretel Fairbrother all picking up two wickets, the latter duo both striking twice in a single over to keep the pressure on.

Central's opening pair of Apperley and Reese Drager (25 off 46) then put 61 on the board before a wicket fell trapped, biting a good chunk out of the target before Drager fell just shy of the midway point of the chase.

Apperley (an unbeaten 53* off 77 balls) continued her excellent all-round tournament by reaching a half century in the Final, despite watching Christchurch's Maggie Martin put herself on an unconverted hat-trick at the other end.

Emma McLeod (27 off 30) provided support through to the 25th over before Martin struck again, but with the required run rate at less than run a ball, CD U15 had the chase under control as they powered home with seven wickets in hand.

Ultimately a wide sealed the championship for unbeaten CD, deserving winners with 3.1 overs to spare.

FINAL SCORECARD

Extra cover!

See Whanganui Chronicle's photos and report here

ROAD TO THE FINAL

30-over matches

Venue: Whanganui Collegiate

Round 1

CENTRAL DISTRICTS U15 170/2

Aniela Apperley 33, Aimee Kay 42, Emma McLeod 50 retired

beat OTAGO U15 59 all out by 111 runs

Caitlin Marshall 4-14, Gemma Lovewell 4-8

Round 2

AUCKLAND U15 102 all out

Jessica McHardy 46*; Aniela Apperley 5-8, Charlotte Stent 2-16

lost to CENTRAL DISTRICTS U15 103/3 by 7 wickets

Emma McLeod 28, Charlotte Stent 27*

Round 3

CENTRAL DISTRICTS U15 2019/6

Lottie Fuller 46, Gretel Fairbrother 23, Aniela Apperley 28*; Sabine Attrill 2-7

beat NORTHERN DISTRICTS U15 107 all out by 112 runs

Chelsea Trail 23*; Caitlin Marshall 5-10, Lottie Fuller 2-10, Aniela Apperley 2-27

Round 4

WELLINGTON U15 139/5

Hannah Ryan 32, Dhriti Girish 27, Kate Chandler 30

lost to CENTRAL DISTRICTS U15 140/2 by 8 wickets

Emma McLeod 39, Reece Dragar 39*, Gretel Fairbrother 27*

Round 5

CHRISTCHURCH XI 87 all out

Maddie Morrow 34*; Gretel Fairbrother 4-15, Aniela Apperley 2-3, Emma McLeod 2-19

lost to CENTRAL DISTRICTS U15 88/2 by 8 wickets

Charlotte Stent 37, Gretel Fairbrother 20*

Article added: Thursday 09 January 2020