Inaugural women’s cricket comp begins in Karratha

The inaugural West Pilbara Cricket Association’s Women’s T20 Competition began at Kevin Richards Oval last Tuesday night.

The newly formed competition is made up of three teams, which affiliate with three of the men’s competition clubs: Karratha Kats Cricket Club, Rec Club and Pegs Creek Crabs Cricket Club.

Each club has successfully recruited players in the off season and worked hard to obtain sponsorship from local businesses to get the competition off to a great start.

Round one was held on Tuesday, October 22, when Kats took on Rec Club, with Rec Club winning the toss and electing to bat.

Three wickets fell early, including a great caught-and-bowled wicket by Peta Frost, to leave Rec Club at 3-1

Rec Club began to put on some runs with Christy Reed and Kayla May putting on a handy partnership when a run-out by a Kats fielder had Rec Club at 6-50 before they were all out for 65.

Kats players displayed some great fielding including four run-outs.

Kats’ Kim Powell and Aimee Jones were the best of the bowlers with two wickets each. Powell finished with 2-9 off her four overs.

Rec Club took to the field and had Kats at 2-1 early before Belinda Morris and Aimee Jones put on runs for Kats.

The game looked in the balance with some excellent bowling from Lauren Fleury, who took 2-14 off four overs and Katelyn Arnold with 2-5 from her four overs.

Arnold also took an early contender for catch of the year when she dived to take a low catch off Hayley Anderson’s bowling to dismiss Elisha Baartz, who was looking very comfortable with the bat.

Aimee Jones remained not out on 11 when Kats eventually passed the Rec Club score to win the game with two wickets to spare.

It was a great start to the season considering a number of women had never played before.