Cricket: Central sense U15 girls success

Central Districts' Anna Gaging bowling against Christchurch Metro in the last round robin game of the national girls U15 tournament at Victoria Park. Gaging would take two wickets in the innings. Photo / Jared Smith

Central Districts want to go one spot better than last summer's runnerup spot and are closing in as the Cricket Express national girls U15 development tournament reaches its conclusion at Victoria Park this morning.

Heading into yesterday afternoon's final round match with Christchurch Metro, who reached 124-9 from their 30 overs, Central were undefeated with three wins and their tied game on Tuesday against the other likely finalist Otago.

After that, they beat Northern Districts by three wickets and Wellington by 10 wickets on Wednesday, before accounting for Auckland by five wickets yesterday morning.

The close-knit team contains three sets of siblings - as Nelson's Anna Gaging will bowl to her twin, wicketkeeper Kate Gaging, while Wairarapa's Gemma Sims could also keep wicket for her national age group swimming champion sister Kate Sims.

Hawke's Bay's Pedersen sisters - Maggie and Cate - complete the family connections.

CD coach Esther Lanser heaped praise on Taranaki allrounder and team skipper Monique Rees, who recently played in the CD Under 21 national championship victory under Whanganui's Jessica Watkin.

"Her captaincy has been absolutely fantastic, leading from the front," said Lanser of Rees. "Her game awareness is what's setting us apart from other teams."

Interestingly, none of the Central Districts players were at the top of the leading run scoring or wicket-taking lists, yet Lanser said this was because everyone was contributing.

"We spread it around, we've got 10 bowlers and 12 batters.

"We've done some mind training as well."

Lanser's lauded techniques of early morning meditation sessions, yoga, and beach visits at sunset had helped the teenagers, especially those who had not played well on any given day, to refresh themselves for the upcoming matches.

Otago, on the other hand, had been led by the competition's top batter in Amber Cunningham who, coming into the final round, had scored 138 runs at an average of 46, and bowler Emma Black, who had taken nine scalps including a five-for in the 47-run victory over Auckland - as the defending champions dropped off the pace over the week.

Given CD had tied with Otago, Lanser was excited at the prospect of facing them again in the final.

"We'll take [the win] though, we had a bit of a shocker that day."

Cunningham had top scored against them in the run chase to make 160, scoring 42, and Rees smartly adjusted her fields against the No4 batter - protecting the boundary and sacrificing singles, then bringing everyone back in to pressure her partners when on strike.

She had obviously learned well under Watkin, who in turn has had tutelage from her Central Districts Hinds skipper Kate Broadmore.

Despite having a busy New Year with two national tournaments, Watkin was at Victoria Park performing umpire duties yesterday, and today is being joined by new White Fern Hannah Rowe.

Whanganui cricket development officer Dilan Raj said it was great that players of their calibre wanted to give back to the cricket festival they themselves had played in only a few years ago.

"They're coming off a long tournament so it's really good to see the girls coming through."

The final is expected to start at 8.30am, with the prizegiving after lunch at 1pm.