Lanning guides Mustangs home
A sensational knock from Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit opener Meg Lanning has seen Box Hill sail through to face Essendon-Maribyrnong Park in the final of the Essteele Premier Firsts Twenty20 competition.
Batting first against a winless Dandenong, it was the Lanning sisters, who got the Mustangs off to a flying start taking the score along to 72 before Anna was dismissed for 23 from as many balls faced.
The loss of her younger sister didn't faze the 19-year-old, as she took apart the Lions' attack, smashing 15 fours and two sixes on her way to 96 not out from 63 deliveries.
Lanning was well supported from fellow Mustang Kate Dempsey, who held her own with the 'Megastar' striking six fours and a six during her unbeaten 57 from 39 balls.
Box Hill posting 1-182 from its 20 overs which proved more than enough to secure a spot in the T20 final as the Lions could only manage 8-45 in reply.
In the other morning game of the double header round, a brilliant performance from the VicSpirit's Jess Cameron guided Plenty Valley home over Brunswick Park.
Chasing 109 for victory, the Bats' run chase was anchored by Cameron, who deposited two balls into the nearby creek on her way to 61.
The Plenty Valley victory was not without its nervous moments as VicSpirit quick Kathleen Hempenstall took four late wickets to take the game into the last over.
However, the Bats were too good and secured the victory with four balls to spare.
The loss to Plenty Valley meant that Brunswick Park had to beat EMP, handsomely in order to progress through the T20 final.
A tough ask considering the Bombers had never been beaten in four years of VWCA T20 cricket.
After a slight rain delay that shortened the match to 18 overs per side, the VicSpirit pairing of Elyse Villani and Emma Inglis got the Parkers off to a perfect start reaching 50 without loss in the sixth over.
Villani (40) then fell with the score at 1-75, however, the 23-year-old Inglis continued to hit the boundary until she was undone for 63 via some good bowling from VicSpirit teammate Kirsten Beams (1-26).
The Parkers eventually posting 5-130 from their 18 overs.
Needing to take all 10 wickets and cheaply, Hempenstall again featured prominently for Brunswick Park removing Cassie Brock (2) straight away, however, VicSpirit class batter Emily McIntyre (33) proved a thorn in the Parkers' side.
EMP finishing their 18 overs 8-100, 30 runs short of the Brunswick Park total, and losing their first T20 game since the shorter format was introduced to the VWCA although just scraping through to the final by .08% of NRR.
The Essteele Premier Firsts Twenty20 decider between Box Hill and Essendon-Maribyrnong Park will be played on Saturday, February 25.
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