The Central Coast U16 Female Representative cricket side created history on December 21, claiming the McDonalds Country Cricket NSW U16 Female Country Championship title for the first time.
The win comes on the back of the U19 Female side also claiming their first Country Championship title back in September.
After Day 2 was affected by rain in Queanbeyan, Central Coast entered the final day in equal first position with Greater Illawarra, who they were scheduled to play in the first of the two T20 matches set for the final day of the championships.
Greater Illawarra won the toss and elected to bat and made steady progress aided by some wayward bowling (29 wides).
The introduction of Scarlett Sheridan and captain Ava Drury into the attack saw the Coast side gain the ascendancy and they were able to dismiss Greater Illawarra for 98 inside 17 overs.
Drury, Sheridan, Alex Bobbi Smith and Anouk van’t Wel were the most successful bowlers with two wickets apiece whilst Kiarra Laugwitz also picked up a wicket.
Needing 99 runs to claim top spot on the table, the Central Coast started their innings disastrously with both openers back in the pavilion with only one run on the board.
Drury and Zara Hepplewhite were able to steady the ship and took the score to 69 before Drury was run out for a well compiled 24.
When Hepplewhite followed shortly after for 27, the match was again evenly balanced at 4/75.
Layla Graham and Alex Bobbi Smith were able to take stock and push the score to 95 before Graham was dismissed.
Two wickets fell before the target score was reached with 11 balls to spare.
Smith finished unbeaten on 13.
The final round saw the Central Coast face arch rivals Newcastle. knowing that victory would see them claim the Country Championship title for the first time.
This time Central Coast batted first after winning the toss and with a new opening combination (Drury and Hepplewhite) were looking for a strong start.
This did not materialise however as first Hepplewhite was dismissed for 1 then Smith (7) and Lacey Burton (5) followed to have the side sitting precariously at 3/32.
Graham joined her captain and the pair put on a 36-run partnership before Drury was again run out for another fine 26.
Graham followed 5 runs later for 17.
The lower order did their job superbly taking the score to a very competitive 7/101 off their allotted 20 overs.
The Coast entered the field full of confidence and this confidence was justified as Graham took two wickets in the opening over to have Newcastle reeling.
Despite a third wicket partnership of 28, Newcastle were never able to recover, as excellent bowling and fielding (two run outs) saw them bowled out for 73 in the 17th over.
Graham was the most successful bowler with three wickets whilst Sheridan, van’t Wel and Laugwitz took one wicket apiece.
“The majority of the squad had an amazing pre season at the NSW Zone Academy where we got to train at Cricket Central in Sydney,” said Scarlett Sheridan.
“6 of us got to taste success at the Under 19 Country Champs in September and we were so driven to secure a rare double,” she said.
“We are a really tight knit group and our friendship definitely helped us succeed.
Captain Drury, however, was undoubtedly the standout performer, taking 2/4 off her three overs to enhance her reputation as one of the best U16s players in the state.
Not only did she perform with both the bat and ball over the three days she led the side extremely well and showed maturity beyond her years.
Full credit must also go to the coaches Jamie Brown and Jess Holmes as well as Manager and Central Coast Female Manager Veronica Brown, who moulded the squad into a well drilled outfit.