Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
CNSW Foundation and Shoalhaven Council’s Indigenous Cricket Festival saw victory for Sydney Thunder in both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fixtures at Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry.
Following a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, 150 kids from five primary schools across the Greater Nowra Area took part in cricket clinics and cultural activities until the start of the first match at 2pm on Friday February 2.
Sydney Thunder Women v Sydney Sixers Women
Sydney Thunder Women and Sydney Sixers Women’s representative sides kicked off the afternoon, taking to the field in full WBBL|09 indigenous kit. Thunder won the toss and elected to bat first.
Opening the batting for the lime green and black, Aimee Ravot (35) and Dharmini Chauhan (5) started strongly before bowler Charletee Keeler broke through in the first few overs. It was the partnership between Ravot and Callee Black (33) that took the side to 121 for 5 from their 20 overs.
Mackenzie Keeler posed the best figures for the pink side with ball in hand as she secured 1 for 14 from her four overs.
The target proved too big for the Sixers, who made it to 69 before losing their final wicket. Sixers captain, Roxanne Van-Veen top scored in their innings with 18 from 22 balls, but it wasn’t enough to take her side over the line as they fell 52 runs short in the 19th over.
The best bowling figures of the match went to Thunder’s Taleha Urszulak who bowled 1 for 5 in an immaculate three overs.
Sydney Thunder Men v Sydney Sixers Men
Mirroring the first game, the Sydney Thunder Men’s representative side won the toss and elected to bat first.
Jack Hartigan became the top scorer of the day with a well earned 56 after opening up with Kobe Ross (9). With the middle order struggling to break into double digits, Captain Damien Duroux supported with a nifty 23, leaving Thunder at 134 for 8 at the end of the innings.
Sixers Luca Croft took best figures of the innings with 2 for 11 from his two overs.
The second innings saw a big 51 run partnership from Sixers captain Matt Carvosso (25) and Jakob Haines (33), taking Sixers through the middle overs but Riley Ingram (3 for 16 from 4) got the breakthrough wicket of Carvosso, quickly followed by Haines. As momentum dropped the side fell 38 runs short reaching 96 for 9.
Overall, a successful day for the lime green and black, but moreover, an important day highlighting the talents of indigenous players from all across NSW.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
