WA still a chance for finals as Spalding makes inauspicious start at national championships

WA has made a mixed start at the under-19 female cricket championships which began in Perth on Monday. The tournament sees the country’s best rising stars compete across nine teams with WA in fifth spot on the ladder outside of the finals on percentage. They opened with a resounding win as Chloe Ainsworth and captain Charis Bekker both made 50s in a total of 1-136 off 20 overs. Ainsworth then did the damage with the ball taking three wickets as they routed Tasmania for just 98. Later that day they went down in a tough loss to the Vic Metro side falling seven runs short of their target of 135 despite a quickfire 37 from Rebecca McGrath. Dongara star Meg Spalding got in the action for the first time on Tuesday although she lasted just two balls as WA collapsed for 47 all out against a powerful Vic Country side which went on to win by six wickets. Spalding fell for a three-ball duck in game four, caught and bowled off South Australia’s Sanigdha Bansal, as WA made their way to 9-102 which they successfully defended thanks to three wickets from Bekker and Morgan Pires. They began one-day games on Thursday with WA taking on Queensland and needing a win to stay in finals contention. WA won the toss and sent Queensland in to bat and required 238 for victory after Lucinda Bourke made 67 to anchor the innings. At the time of writing, WA were off to a steady start sitting at 1-24 in reply off 10 overs with Tene Crafford the wicket to fall, stumped for a duck.