The Entrance District Cricket Club

2023/24 Season

Wyong District Cricket Club

2023/24 Season

Friday, January 5 was a significant day in relation to female cricket on the Central Coast with, for the first time, three Central Coast juniors taking the field in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), the pinnacle of domestic women’s cricket in Australia.

Lauren Smith (Southern Spirit) has been the pioneer of Women’s Cricket on the Central Coast and has been plying her trade at the elite level for many years now, firstly with NSW (WNCL) and Sydney Sixers (WBBL) and more recently with Tasmania and the Sydney Thunder. She has also played in an number of professional leagues overseas. She is regarded as one of the most reliable cricketers with her off spin, lower order batting and brilliant fielding making her the complete cricketer.

Last year, Alisha Bates (Lisarow Ourimbah) received a contract to play for the ACT Meteors and after making her debut late last season she has been a regular fixture for the Meteors this year, impressing with her left arm spin and solid middle order batting. Alisha still plays cricket on the Central Coast when her ACT commitments allow and last week she played in the Women’s 1st Grade competition which was a thrill for those who played with and against her.

Making up the trio is Terrigal Matcham’s, Grace Dignam who earned a contract with ACT after a dominant season last year for both Northern Districts and Terrigal Matcham. After having to overcome a severe hamstring injury early in the season, Friday saw her debut for the Meteors. and she has since managed to play a further two matches and given her limited experience at this level the right handed bat and off spin bowler performed creditably.

Whilst these three have reached the pinnacle of domestic cricket in this country, there are many other girls who over the past month have also reached significant levels including Rochelle Davis (Wyong) who played for NSW Country in the Australian Country Championships played in Newcastle. Emily Humphreys and Tara French (both Terrigal Matcham) performed well for NSW Country and the National U19 Female Championships which included Humphreys taking the amazing figures of 6/2 in one match. To round things off, Terrigal Matcham’s Ava Drury is off to Hobart this week to play in the National U16 Female Championships for NSW Country.

Not to be outdone the Central Coast had a dozen players represent NSW in the Women’s National Veterans Championships in November.

The local female competitions also continue to expand with the number of players taking the field this year, including both seniors and juniors, growing by 14%, whilst the Central Coast enjoyed success in both the Country Cricket NSW U19’s & U16’s Championships for the first time this season.

There are many people both past and present who have contributed to this success but it is Lauren, Alisha and Grace who continue to provide the inspiration and fuel the dreams for our youngsters.

This weekend Central Coast will play in the McDonald's Country Championships final with the game being held on Sunday, 10 December at Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground. The Central Coast side is up against four time champions, Newcastle.

After a complete wash out at Orange in the Southern Pool rounds, the Country Committee made the decision to send Central Coast to the finals as the top team from last season. This will be Central Coast's second attempt at taking the win.

The Central Coast side is lead by Broc Hardy who will attempt to break Newcastle's undefeated winning record and bring the trophy back to the Coast with his team. The side is filled with the likes of Jake Hardy, Brett Russell, Broc Hardy, Simon Keen and Kobe Allison who all sit within the top 8 batters on the Central Coast. Christopher Archer returns to another final as, statistically, the best bowler on the Coast this season and with the help of Scott Burkinshaw, Broc Hardy and Tom Owen, Central Coast hold a really competitive side filled with talent.

The McDonald's Country Championships were due to be played in Orange from 24-26 November 2023. Over the weekend there was a complete wash out of all games. The Country Committee announced that Central Coast will progress through to the McDonald's Country Championships final against Newcastle being that they were the the leading side in the southern pool from last season. The final will be played on 10 December with the venue to be confirmed.

Central Coast lost the final against Riverina in the Southern Pool of the Plan B Country Bash.

In Round 1, Central Coast competed against Western. Central Coast won the toss and elected to bowl which paid off. Robert Lavery took the first wicket of an opening batter followed by 3 more wickets by Scott Burkinshaw who finished the innings 4/11 off 4. Simon Keen took 2/21 off 4 taking the side all out for 89 after 19.1 overs. Central Coast sent out Simon Keen and Jake Hardy to open their batting innings and they didn't disappointment with Jake Hardy putting 33* off 31 (4 x 4s and 1 x 6) on the board. But, it was Simon Keen's 50* off 35 (4 x 4s and 3 x 6s) that brought the side home with a massive 6 to take the win.

Central Coast reached 91 off just 10.5 overs and sent them to the final round.

Riverina and Central Coast met in the final and Central Coast won the toss electing to bowl. Scott Burkinshaw 2/24 off 4, Simon Keen 3/19 off 4 and Jack Harris 3/16 off 3 took a share of the wickets and only allowed 3 of Riverina's batters get into the double digits. After the innings, Riverina finished 8/124 and Central Coast took to the crease. The opening batters were taken out, Simon Keen for 5 and Jake Hardy for a duck. Brett Russell went out to steady the run rate hitting a quick 15 off 13 with 3 x 4s. Jack Harris went on to hit 19* off 25 but our final wicket was Jake Holmes on 14 off 14. After 15.5 overs, Central Coast were all out for 72.

An unlucky loss for the side but a great effort! Well done to Simon Keen from The Entrance District Cricket Club who scored 50* and 2/21 off 4 in Round 1 and 3/19 off 4 in Round.