Bay of Plenty Cricket vs Cornwall Cricket Club - the finals showdown

Bay of Plenty's Macy Donaghy bats against Manawatu in the Bay of Plenty Cricket Under 15 Girls tournament. Photo / George Novak

With four strong batting performances Bay of Plenty's Under-15 girls' cricket team have won the inaugural Bay of Plenty Cricket Under-15 girls' tournament title.

Bay of Plenty took out the tournament, which saw the local side take on Taranaki, Manawatu and the Cornwall Cricket Club in Twenty20 competition over Labour Weekend, winning their three preliminary games and defeating the Cornwall in the title decider. A feature of the tournament, was the highly competitive totals that were posted throughout.

The tournament winners posted four strong batting performances, setting solid targets in their three preliminary games.

"There were several close games that went down to the wire, including the final, where Bay of Plenty chased down their target with just three balls to spare," Bay of Plenty Cricket tournament organiser Rebecca Yee.

Three individual performances during the weekend really stood out during the Gordon Spratt Reserve tournament. They included 13-year-old Manawatu player Abby Treder, who scored the first two half-centuries of her career, with a particularly strong batting performance against Bay of Plenty. Two wicket-keepers showed talent and dexterity beyond their years as well - Cornwall keeper Elizabeth Buchanan took five catches and effected three stumping's and also assisted in two runouts, while Bay of Plenty wicket keeper Amelia Harvey was also in top form with the gloves, with six catches and one stumping.

"The tournament was an outstanding success, which will benefit the young participants in their future endeavours in the game. The performances from the four teams was exceptional and we appreciate the participation of Cornwall, Taranaki and Manawatu who drove many kilometers to play in the tournament," Yee said.

"Bay of Plenty Cricket are keen to run the tournament next year and we hope to invite more teams to compete.

The Bay of Plenty team:

Tash Wakelin, Grace Kahle (Aquinas College) Jorja Neill (Tauhara College) Macy Donaghy (Otumoetai College), Elle Archer, Amelia Harvey, Aimee Unwin (Tauranga Girls' College), Mya Clarke (Te Puke High School), Brittany Jenkins (Tauranga Intermediate), Sabine Atttrill (Mount Maunganui Intermediate).

Results:
Day one, round one - October 26:
Bay of Plenty 125/4 (Aimee Unwin 30, Jorja Neil 25) defeated Manawatu 109/7 (Abby Treder 51; Tash Wakelin 3/17); Taranaki 52/8 (Simi Bajaj 3/16) lost to Cornwall 53/3.
Round Two: Manawatu 90/6 (Gemma Lovewell 35) lost to Taranaki 91/5 (Emily Shelver 24); Bay of Plenty 135/5 Tash Wakelin 43, Elle Archer 29) defeated Cornwall 96/8 (Simi Bajaj 22, Jessica McHardy 21; Tash Wakelin 3/14).

Day two, round three - October 27:
Manawatu 65/8 (Arunika Mathur-Saini 3/17) lost to Cornwall 66/0 (Simi Bajaj 33no); Bay of Plenty 114/0 (Amelia Harvey 27, Sabine Attrill 26 retired. Tash Wakelin 22 retired) defeated Taranaki 82/5 (Heidi Johns 36).
Final: Cornwall 112/5 (Simi Bajaj 32) lost to Bay of Plenty 113/4 (Mya Clarke 33, Tash Wakelin 24).
Third Place: Taranaki 136/5 (Jorja Death 38) lost to Manawatu 140/1 (Abby Treder 53 retired, Gemma Lovewell 39, Brooke Te Wake 22).