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The Scorches, led by Kim Garth, came out victorious in the final game of the Super 3’s season, beating the Typhoons by six wickets to secure the inaugural title.
Chasing 117 for victory, the Scorchers never really looked troubled as a patient 44 not out from Leah Paul and a brisk 20 not out from Garth saw them cross the line with plenty of time to spare. Early in the day things looked like they would be far more difficult for the Scorchers when Clare Shillington smashed 48 from just 36 balls, but the Typhoons were unable to capitalise on the start and ended up 116 all out.

Having won the toss and electing to bat the Typhoons would have been very happy with their start despite losing Melissa Scott-Hayward (2) early, with Shillington applying the pressure and asking questions of both bowlers and fielders as she attacked from the outset. Garth and Brooke Hepburn levelled up the game by the 20-over mark with two wickets each, including that of Shillington, leaving the Typhoons 95-4, still in a good position to post a big target.

Some tight bowling from Anna Kerrison and Robyn Lewis saw pressure build on the Typhoons batters, and as they tried to rotate the strike with some dubious running between the wickets the Scorchers fielders took advantage, with five run-outs leaving the Typhoons innings in tatters as the lower order failed to add anything substantial to the score, leaving the Typhoons 116 all out from just 35 overs.

The Scorchers only required 2.3 runs per over to win the game and as such never really looked troubled in the chase. There was a slow start to the innings as Leah Paul and Anna Kerrison (6) put on just 23 runs for their opening partnership which lasted 13 overs before Kerrison was bowled by Elena Tice. By the time the sides broke for lunch, the Scorchers, who knew only a heavy defeat would see them lose out on the title, had already passed the 26 runs needed to secure the series and re-started the game with renewed focus on winning the match.

Tice continued to cause problems in a typically attacking spell, picking up the wickets of Robyn Lewis (9) and Una Raymond-Hoey (12) before Louise McCarthy had Meg Kendal trapped LBW for one as the Scorchers wobbled slightly in their reply.

Captain Garth had other ideas though as she came to the crease and steadied the ship with a solid 20 not out at the end of the innings supporting the brilliant Leah Paul to get the Scorchers over the line to win the match and end the series two points clear of the Dragons in second place.

It was a day of double celebration for Garth as she picked up the player of the series award ahead of Cecelia Joyce (2nd) and Meg Kendal (3rd) after a string of dominant bowling displays and excellent leadership on the field.

Pic: Rob O’Connor
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