Shootings Stars finish with a bang, 23 December 2009, www.cricketnsw.com

The Australian U/21 women’s team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, beat New Zealand Emerging Players by 91 runs in the fifth and final match of their series at Blacktown Olympic Park last night (December 22).

Captain Erin Osborne won the toss and elected to bat first with her team posting 236 from 47.5 overs.

Victorian opener, Elyse Villani, produced her best knock of the series, hitting 80 off 98 balls. The other highlight was 60 off 62 balls by Erin Osborne, who has been starting to show some good form with the bat in recent matches.

New Zealand started their chase with a 47 run stand between openers Katey Martin (23) and Natalie Dodd (21). However Martin’s dismissal, lbw to Victorian Meg Lanning, saw them lose four wickets for just 14 runs.

Katie Perkins (27) and 2009 New Zealand World Cup representative, Sophie Devine (28), provided some resistance however more meaningful partnerships just weren’t forthcoming for the visitors who were bowled out for 145 in the 38th over.

Queenslander Delissa Kimmince finished with the figures of 3-20 from four overs, including the important wicket of Sophie Devine. Meg Lanning also picked up 3-20.

Queensland’s Jessica Jonassen and NSW’s Angela Reakes and Sarah Coyte took one wicket each.

Last night’s result meant the Australian U/21 team takes out the series 4-1 after winning both 50 over matches and two of the three Twenty20 fixtures.

Shooting Stars wrap up series, 21 December 2009, www.cricketnsw.com

The Australian U/21 women’s team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, have wrapped up their five match series against the New Zealand Emerging Players with one match to play.

The Australians currently hold a 3-1 series lead after winning their Twenty20 match on Friday then beating the visitors by 122 runs in yesterday’s 50 over match.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl in the first of two 50 over games, with Australia going on to post 246 in 49.3 overs.

NSW’s Sarah Coyte continued here excellent series with 51, sharing in a 104 run stand with Victorian Jessica Cameron (66).

Coyte’s NSW team mate, Erin Osborne, also made a handy 48 not out from 46 balls at the end of the innings.

In reply the New Zealand Emerging Players could only manage 124 from 33.5 overs. Queenslander Delissa Kimmince (3-16) and Erin Osborne (3-25) were the main wicket takers.

Young Stars shot down, 18 December 2009, www.cricketnsw.com

The Australian U/21 women’s team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, have lost the second match of their series against the New Zealand Emerging Players at Blacktown Olympic Park in the final over (December 17).

Australia batted first in the Twenty20 fixture to make 5-127. The highlight of the innings was a 50 run stand between NSW’s Sarah Coyte (32 from 29 balls) and Victorian Jess Cameron (40 from 31 balls). The pair’s half-century stand came off less than six overs.

After a poor performance with the bat in game one, the New Zealand batters seemed far more determined this time around. Katey Martin and Frances Mackay put on 51 for the first wicket in eight overs before NSW leggie, Angela Reakes, separated the pair. But that only bought Natalie Dodd to the crease. She smashed 34 from 25 balls to set her team up for the win. New Zealand ended up getting home with six wickets and three balls to spare.

Shooting Stars take 1-0 lead, 17 December 2009, www.cricketnsw.com

The Australian U/21s women’s team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, have defeated New Zealand Emerging Players by eight wickets in game one of their five match series at Blacktown Olympic Park (December 16).

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat in what was the first of three Twenty20 matches. However they struggled against the young Australian attack and were bowled out for 79 in the 19th over.

Queensland left arm spinner, Jessica Jonassen, proved more than a handful for the kiwi batters returning figures of 3-11.

Despite losing the early wicket of Victorian Elyse Villani, the Shooting Stars took just 11 overs to reach the victory target. NSW all-rounder Sarah Coyte finished on 33 not out while State team mate, Alyssa Healy, made 19. Victoria’s Jessica Cameron was 22 not out.

Breakers get the better of NZ, 16 December 2009, www.cricketnsw.com

The NSW Breakers defeated the New Zealand Emerging Players by 13 runs in a Twenty20 match at the Blacktown Olympic Park No.2 Oval yesterday (December 15).

This match was a warm up for the New Zealand Emerging Players ahead of their series against the Australian U/21 team starting today (December 16).

The Breakers went into the match minus a six of their regular players. Erin Osborne, Sarah Coyte, Alyssa Healy and Angela Reakes were unavailable after being selected in the Australian U/21 team while fast bowlers Sarah Andrews and Ellyse Perry were rested.

This provided an opportunity for Rhiannon Dick, Kate Waetford and Lisa Griffith to play their first match of the Breakers.

Even without six of their regulars, the Breakers still boasted a strong batting line up and were able to post 7-155 from their 20 overs.

Kate Blackwell led the way with 64 runs from 44 balls while Lisa Sthalekar hit 22 from 20 balls and Alex Blackwell 30 from 20.

New Zealand were given the perfect platform to chase thanks to an 80 run opening stand between Katey Martin and Frances Mackay.

However their dismissals, both out for 36, proved a stumbling block as the visitors started to slip badly behind the required run rate. Mackay was particular unlucky in her dismissal, slipping over at the non-strikers end as Lisa Sthalekar gathered a straight drive from the batter to run her out.

In a desperate attempt to chase the runs, Amber Boyce made an entertaining 34 from 18 balls however it was a lone hand as the New Zealand Emerging Players finished their innings at 4-142.

Shooting Stars named to play NZ, 23 November 2009

The Women's National Selection Panel (WNSP) has today announced the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars (Australia Under-21) squad to play the NZ Emerging Players in a series of Twenty20 and 50-over matches in Sydney in December.

The squad is:

• Erin Osborne NSW (captain)
• Jessica Cameron VIC (vice-captain)
• Sarah Coyte (NSW)
• Alyssa Healy (NSW)
• Jessica Jonassen (QLD)
• Delissa Kimmince (QLD)
• Meg Lanning (VIC)
• Renee Melton (VIC)
• Ellyse Perry (NSW)
• Emilee Preston (ACT)
• Angela Reakes (NSW)
• Selena Tainton (QLD)
• Elyse Villani (VIC)
• Reserve Player - Katelyn Fryett (TAS)

Commenting on the squad, WNSP Chair Christina Matthews said:

"We have selected a very experienced team with five players, Erin Osborne, Jess Cameron, Delissa Kimmince, Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani, having had experience with the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.

"Captain Erin Osborne has a wealth of experience, having now played in two ICC world events and toured with the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars to New Zealand and England.

"The matches against New Zealand will provide these young players with further opportunities to impress selectors as we prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 campaign in the West Indies in April."

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