Leg-spinner Maisy Gibson’s five-wicket effort helped Universities to an eight-wicket defeat of Gordon in their Women’s Premier Cricket semi-final on Sunday to earn the Students a berth in the 2017-18 grand final.
The Sydney Thunder spinner claimed 5-16 at Alan Davidson Oval – her second five-wicket haul of the season – after being introduced into the attack as seventh change.
Having won the toss and batted, Gordon reached an encouraging 3-94, thanks to opener Hannah Trollip’s 49, before the wickets began to tumble. The hosts lost 6-38 to finish with 9-132 from their 50 overs.
While Gibson was the star with the ball, Georgia Redmayne and Ashley Day were the stars with the willow. Opener Day remained not out on 48 while No.3 Redmayne made a quick-fire 64 to power Universities home in 28 overs. Universities finished with 2-133.
Gibson’s five-wicket haul took her to her tally to 20 wickets from the 10 matches she has played this season at the miserly average of 9.9.
In the other semi-final, minor premiers Bankstown Sports were eliminated in a shock defeat to the fourth-ranked St George-Sutherland, who will be Universities opponents in the season decider at Blacktown International Sports Park from 10am on Sunday.
In Second Grade, minor premiers Parramatta will meet Universities in the grand final next Sunday after Parramatta defeated Northern District by five wickets and the Students overcame St George-Sutherland by four wickets.
Shebani Bhaskar (61 not out) and Yvonne Graves (3-27) starred with bat and ball for Universities in their semi-final victory.
In the semi-finals of the Third Grade Twenty20 competition, third-ranked Bankstown Sports overcame second-placed Gordon, and minor premiers St George-Sutherland comfortably defeated Universities Gold by nine wickets.
Scoreboard
Sydney Premier Women’s Grade competition – Semi-Finals (Limited Overs)
First Grade: Universities 2-133 off 28 overs (Georgia Redmayne 64, Ashley Day 48 not out; Shannon Heath 1-12) defeated Gordon 9-132 off 50 overs (Hannah Trollip 49; Maisy Gibson 5-16, Stella Campbell 3-21) by eight wickets at Alan Davidson Oval on Sunday.
St George-Sutherland defeated Bankstown Sports in the other semi-final.
Final: Universities versus St George-Sutherland at Blacktown International Sports Park from 10am on Sunday.
Second Grade: Universities 6-162 off 48.5 overs (Shebani Bhaskar 61 not out, Darshana Kannan 25, Erica James 22; Taylah Knight 2-22, Mishal Shah 2-28) defeated St George-Sutherland 8-161 off 50 overs (Mariam Bank 51, Amu Wills 32, Michelle Rigney 26; Yvonne Graves 3-27, Taylor Ling 2-19) by four wickets at Harold Fraser Oval on Sunday. Toss: Universities. Batted first: St George-Sutherland.
Parramatta defeated Northern District in the other semi-final.
Final: Universities versus Parramatta at Grahame Thomas Oval from 10am on Sunday.
