The Hunter put in their worst batting display of the carnival to fall to South Coast in the CHS Girls Cricket Championship final on Thursday.
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A combination of good bowling and fielding and some rash shots saw the Hunter dismissed for 45 and effectively out of the contest.
However, the Hunter girls dug deep and had South Coast six wickets down before the southern team passed the small total.
Both teams had gone into the final undefeated and Hunter coach Peter Hosking said the batting collapse was a disappointing way to end their campaign.
“We were probably guilty of the girls not putting enough value on their wickets and knuckling down into an innings,” Hosking said.
“South Coast bowled well and put a lot of pressure on in the field.
“I think the girls showed their true character in the way they fought back by taking six wickets before South Coast passed the target.”
Hosking said he was extremely proud of his team’s on-field efforts, sportsmanship and terrific behaviour.
“They did their schools and the zone very proud, they were a great bunch of girls to coach,” he said.
Reflecting the nature of the disappointing batting display, Nell Gibson and Maddy McGuigan top scored with just six runs each.
South Coast’s skipper Kelly Rowlings and vice-captain Naomi Woods led from the front taking 3-6 and 4-12 respectively.
Opener Shania Mitchell gave South Coast a solid start making 16 and Dharmini Chauhan contributed nine as their team reached their target in the 17th over to record a four-wicket win.
Nell Gibson, Jordann Johnson, Abbey Taylor, Allison McGrath and Maitland’s Jasmine Goode all took a wicket for the Hunter.
Hosking said Gibson was awarded the Blackwell Trophy for the Hunter’s best player across the carnival.
“It was an extremely even performance by the girls, they all contributed throughout the carnival, but Nell’s bowling probably stood out,” he said.
“Her 5-6 in the semi-final was a terrific performance which gave us out spot in the final.”
Hosking praised the facilities at Maitland Park.