Alyse O’Connell and Bella Woods star on opening day of Junior Country Week

By Aydin Payne

Jan 4, 2023

Sport often provides special moments thanks to its unscripted nature and Cricket Shepparton’s extraordinary round one win in the under-17 girls Junior Country Week carnival on Tuesday was no exception.

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It will be remembered for Gisborne District Cricket Association’s insane batting collapse, the away team lost 7-10 to be bowled out 21 runs short of victory, but the incredible contest had a litter of heroes worth a spot in everyone’s memories.

You had captain Mia Earl display her outstanding leadership skills, the energetic Eloise Walker with her bag of tricks, Ava Wood providing safe hands behind the stumps and countless others who helped contribute to the dramatic win.

Including star duo Alyse O’Connell and Bella Woods.

The Cricket Shepparton girls, who are teammates for Premier Cricket outfit Carlton, provided standout individual performances.

O’Connell was first to strut her stuff on stage at Mooroopna — her stomping ground — with a stellar half-century knock.

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Raise the bat: Cricket Shepparton’s Alyse O'Connell raises the bat for the first time in her career. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Walking on sunshine: Eloise Walker celebrates a wicket. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Party time: Cricket Shepparton celebrates a wicket. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Straight through: Gisborne’s Zara Shinn-Mahoney is bowled by Bella Woods. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Winding up: Cricket Shepparton’s Mia Earl. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Howzat? Cricket Shepparton’s Ava Wood. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Out: Gisborne’s Charli Laity is bowled by Bella Woods. Photo by Aydin Payne

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Steaming in: Cricket Shepparton’s Eloise Walker. Photo by Aydin Payne

The self-confessed bowler opened the batting and flew the flag with a crucial 58-run knock which gave her side the important score of 138.

The 110-ball innings was extra special for O’Connell — she raised the bat to mark 50 runs for the first time in her career with a gentle late cut down to third man.

“I am not a batter,” O’Connell said with a laugh after the match.

“I sometimes get put up the order and I always get nervous because I’m more of a bowler ... but I think when I get focused and get switched on I definitely see a difference.”

O’Connell the bowler then stood up in the field with 1-20 from her five overs.

The tall medium pacer nabbed the first crucial wicket of Gisborne’s impending collapse of 7-10.

“I thought we had a good enough score to defend,” O’Connell said.

“At the halfway stage there I thought ‘oh we’re slipping back a bit and struggling’, but Mia and Tayla gave us a pep talk and we all got around each other and pulled it off, which was really good.”

One of the marvels with the ball was O’Connell’s Mooroopna teammate Woods.

The fiery right-arm quick picked up the first wicket of the innings before her sixth and final over of the match had her tear through Gisborne’s tail-order.

Woods picked up three wickets in five deliveries to finish the match with impressive figures of 4-14.

“Last year when we played them it was a bit intense and I bowled the last over too,” Woods said.

“My plan was to just ball on the stumps, good line and length, and hope they miss.

“But it’s really good because Alyse and I are actually teammates with a lot of those girls (in Melbourne), so it’s really friendly and it’s good fun out there.”