It was close – it was really close – the final the 9th South Island Girls Invitational Tournament was a fitting finale to 3 days of excellent cricket from over 100 girls from the South Island and beyond.

After being soundly beaten by Dunedin in Pool Play Christchurch still managed to qualify for the final on run-rate after 4 teams had a 3 win 1 loss record after the first 2 days of 20/20 play.

In the final Christchurch were determined to get more than the 67 that Dunedin easily chased down on Day 1 and worked their way through to 106 in their 20 overs.  Early wickets saw Dunedin behind the eight-ball for most of the match and when 30 runs were needed off the last 3 overs Christchurch were strong favourites to take the title.

The Dunedin pair of Barnes and Andrews who came together with the score at 56-5 in the 13th over had other ideas – the 18th over went for just 6 so 24 were required off 2 overs and 12 of those were hit of the 19th over so 12 to win off the last over – after a first ball boundary and a 2nd ball No Ball meant 7 were needed off 5 including a Free Hit.

Some accurate bowling and fearless running saw Dunedin on 105 as the last ball was about to be bowled.  CJCA captain Olivia Paul bought her field in and Ciara Hartland had the pressure of bowling the last ball – the tension was superb as Ciara kept her nerve and bowled the perfect ball bowling Barnes middle stump to secure the win by just 1 run – regardless of the result it was a great game and Dunedin gallant runners up.

A happy bunch of CJCA Girls after their nail biting win

Below is the video of the last ball which was taken by our Girls Convenor Cat Quinn which has had 100’s of views!!

https://www.facebook.com/ChristchurchJuniorCricket/videos/1011028716092115

 

The CJCA thanks all the Girls and supporters, coaches, scorers and managers from Southland, Dunedin, Otago Country (Lakes & Maniatoto), North Otago, Nelson, Canterbury Country and Cornwall from Auckland as well as our own Girls for 3 days of sometimes challenging cricket with the wild weather we got on Day 2.

Dunedin Girls still smiling after their narrow loss (photo Out & AB-out Photography)

We look forward to the 10th Anniversary Tournament in January 2022 and hope that we can grow the Tournament to 12 teams for the first time. The CJCA also thanks the Burnside West University Cricket Club for use of the great wickets and our superb team of umpires for creating such a superb developmental environment.