Shepparton’s Notre Dame College has reason to celebrate after its senior girls were crowned state champions in Twenty20 cricket.
The school’s Year 11-12 team competed to be School Sport Victoria State T20 Female Cricket champion in Melbourne on October 10, playing a semi-final match-up before completing its premiership triumph later that day.
Notre Dame’s girls pulverised almost all who came before them, having first won through to the city by notching a monstrous 130-run victory over Wodonga at Wangaratta seven months ago.
Notre Dame would cruise through to the semis in late March, as Alyse O’Connell’s unbeaten 60 powered her side to a commanding 51-run win at Vermont’s expense.
Finally, the tournament reached its conclusion last week and the team picked up where it had left off months prior, dismantling Bendigo Senior Secondary College to the tune of 131 runs.
The win was dominant in every facet and six Notre Dame bowlers combined to dismiss Bendigo for a paltry 27 all out.
Later in the afternoon SEDA College would give Notre Dame its sternest test, but O’Connell’s figures of 2-14 and a team-high 29 to Gemma Boyd saw the Shepparton school over the line in the decider.
Assistant coach Nonie Shipston commended her team’s effort over the year as “a fantastic result”.
“The team had an amazing blend of talent, commitment and comradery, which are important qualities for all successful teams,” Shipston said.
“We are very proud of the way every team member represented the college with humility and true sportspersonship.
“They will have long-lasting memories from achieving this premiership.”