Women’s Country Week: BDCA Red win thrilling A-Grade grand final over Geraldton’s 1st XI

Bunbury Red all-rounder Emily Allen played the game of her life on Monday afternoon at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar.

Fortunately for her Red teammates, it was in the A-Grade grand final of the 2023 women’s country week carnival and ensured the home side pipped Geraldton’s 1st XI by one wicket.

Allen (6-16 off four overs) decimated her Mid West rivals, who elected to bat first, in the dying stages of their innings.

At one stage it appeared Belinda Burrows (47 off 55 balls) and Abby Green (13 off 11 balls) had the home side’s measure.

However Allen, who represented WA at the Toyota Australian country cricket championships earlier this year, swung the game in the 16th over.

After enticing Burrows to club a shot to Melinda Knox, Allen continued to find a decent length, which resulted in Samantha Biddiscombe and Katie Clarkson joining Burrows in the pavilion by the end of the over.

Chasing 102 for victory, Geraldton deviated from having Tia Hatch opening the bowling alongside Ashlyn Thompson.

The home side fell to 2-11 early after the dismissal of in-form batter Stephanie Jolly but were still able to score runs freely — until Hatch came into the attack at the start of the 12th over.

An over earlier, Allen (48 off 40 balls) had cut loose against Oliva Bidwell by gently rocking on her back foot and coolly dispatching three boundaries.

But not a single Bunbury Red player looked settled at the crease throughout Hatch’s spell. This was primarily down to her quality line and ability to pitch the ball into uncomfortable areas for each batter.

On the final ball of the penultimate over, Nat Flynn fell over while scampering through for a run which resulted in a mix-up between the wickets.

With the scores tied and one wicket in hand, Thompson’s second delivery sailed past the outstretched gloves of Geraldton’s ’keeper, which resulted in four byes and an unforgettable one-wicket victory.