The Sunshine Coast Scorchers women are surprised to earn a berth in the state first grade final and “super keen” to go on with the job.
The Buderim-based outfit charged into the decider, via a six-wicket defeat of Wests last weekend and now they’re determined to topple minor premiers Gold Coast on Sunday.
Captain Clodagh Ryall hailed her team for making it to the big dance.
“It’s pretty good considering it’s our first year in first grade,” she said.
They won seven games and had two draws and four losses to finish the regular season in third place on the eight-team ladder, before eliminating Wests.
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Ryall hailed the efforts of the Ash Renouf-coached outfit in 2020/2021.
“We won second grade the last two years, and it’s pretty good that we can step up to that (top) level and keep winning (games),” she said.
“It shows the Sunshine Coast has some quality cricketers.
“We work well as a team to get the job done. If we’re out there on the field, we work us a team so it’s going to be easier for us when we’re batting.”
A Katherine Raymond Shield premiership is within sight and they’re desperate to claim it.
“We’re super keen to win it,” Ryall said.
“We knocked off the Gold Coast a few weeks ago, so hopefully we can do it again.”
On that occasion, the Scorchers scored 185 before their bowlers went to work and they won by 46 runs.
Their opponents are likely to field dangerous Queensland representative Georgia Redmayne.
The Scorchers don’t have any Fire players but some of their players should be in the scope of selectors because of the team’s eye-catching campaign.
“There will be a couple of girls they’re looking at, considering we’ve made the final in the top league,” Ryall said.
The Scorchers boast several game breakers.
“We can all change a game. It just depends on whose day it is. It depends on who is bowling well or batting well on the day.”
The team’s fielding and bowling has been a strength, with Charlotte Briggs (20 wickets at an average of 17 runs) and Ruby Orchard (24 wickets at 9) among the competition’s top five wicket takers.
Orchard and Zoe Valencic were key in their win over Wests, claiming 3/11 and 3/22 respectively.
Gold Coast will host the final at Robina.
In a sign the Sunshine Coast is an emerging cricket stronghold, the Scorchers men’s second grade side will also feature in semi-finals, after finishing second on the regular season ladder.
The women’s second grade side reached the semi-finals before bowing out, while the men’s first grade side experienced a disappointing campaign to finish last.
