The Women’s Big Bash League made its way to Gippsland last weekend.
The Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers all descended on Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe for the final two rounds of the regular season.
Unfortunately, poor weather ruined much of the on-field action, ending on Sunday in anti-climactic fashion, with the Stars match not seeing a result.
There was however some feel-good stories out of the weekend.
Stars skipper Nicole Faltum returned home, while former Traralgon District player Erica Kershaw won Player of the Match honours in the Renegades win over the Scorchers on Sunday.
Kershaw saved the day, coming in at number five with the Renegades 3/15 chasing 46 in a match reduced to eight overs.
The left-hander clubbed 34 off 18 balls, with five fours and two sixes, to see the Renegades over the line with three balls to spare.
The result meant the Scorchers could not make finals.
Talk about an ignominious way to go out – imagine flying three hours from Perth to Melbourne, driving to a town 150 kilometres away, and then having your season finish in an eight over game.
Cricket really does have a way to keep you grounded: two years ago Scorchers wicket-keeper Beth Mooney scored 78 off 54 balls in front of more than 85,000 people in a World Cup Final. On Sunday she made a first baller in front of about 50 people in Moe.
The Melbourne Stars enjoyed a win on Saturday, defeating the Scorchers by six runs.
Batting first, the Stars compiled 8/179 from their 20 overs.
Runs at the top of the order from Lauren Winfield-Hill (36), and Sophie Read (24) laid a strong platform, allowing Bess Heath to come in and score 27 off 16 balls later in the innings.
Batting at six, Faltum played an elegant ramp shot for four, before being caught at cover point after slicing a drive trying to force the issue in the last five overs.
The Scorchers need 15 runs off the last over to win, but the Stars held their nerve, denying their opponents to secure the points.
With no finals spot to play for, the Stars were at least able to restore some pride.
On Sunday, the Stars were scheduled to play finals-bound Brisbane Heat.
Inclement weather delayed the start-time, and reduced the game to a ’10/10′.
Brisbane scored 5/104 from their 10, and then bowled 3.5 overs at the Stars before the game was abandoned.
At that stage, the Stars were in a promising position at 49/1.
With plenty of time to kill before the game waiting for a start, Faltum was seen conversing with family and friends over the fence, while Heat players threw the state’s code ball around.
In a nice touch, Melbourne Stars players and staff went around to Faltum’s parents’ house in Moe for a bit of a get-together over the weekend.
As the Moe games were the last leading into finals, the final four was officially decided.
Sydney Sixers finished six points clear on top, followed by Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes.
The Sixers look like they will take some beating, and boast a seriously star-studded team that includes Alyssa Healey, Ash Gardner, and the world’s most perfect person, Ellyse Perry.
In the wash-up, the Stars ran sixth of eight teams, but were only two points off qualifying for finals.
With the majority of players still under 23, including Faltum, the skipper said it boded well for the future provided they kept the current squad together.
“We’ve performed really well over the whole season, the wins and losses and the ladder doesn’t really reflect our season,” she said.
“I think we’ve performed really, really well with bat and ball. We’ve been disappointing in games that’s for sure but with an extremely young side we’ve done really well and am really proud of that.”
To give you an idea of just how young the Stars are, only four players on the roster are actually old enough to drive hire cars when the team travels interstate (25 being the required age).
As WBBL athletes are semi-professional, Faltum will now return to playing grade cricket.
Away from cricket, the 22-year-old works for an accounting firm and studies business.
Now that the WBBL season is over, the opportunity could also be there for Faltum to come back and play a game for little old Trafalgar Cricket Club.
Clearances are open until Christmas Nic …
