T20 final was one to remember

By Casey O'Connor

I have to congratulate Santa for his foresight in leaving a couple of tickets to the Women’s T20 World Cup final under the Christmas tree for me. Surely when that happened there could be no doubt that the Aussie’s were going to at the very least make it to the final.

I did have moments of doubt as I suffered along with other fans through that excruciating semi final against South Africa. The Aussie girls held their nerve and defied the weather gods to get the job done (Santa of course was in their corner).

To be present at the World Cup final was a real privilege and was an experience I will long remember.

The Australian team came out with their game faces on and Alyssa Healy was simply magnificent.

Healy’s performance was world class in every manner of the word and from the first delivery you could tell that it was all business and India would need to do something special to get over the top of Healy let along the remainder of the team.

A knock of 75 from just 39 balls. Her innings in front of that record Australian crowd of 86, 174 included seven fours and five sixes and was applauded by Aussie and Indian fans alike.

Her 50 coming off just 30 balls was the fastest half century scored in the final of any ICC limited overs competition, men’s or women’s including fifty and twenty over World Cups and Champions Trophy events. Small wonder she was name Player of the Final.

Although Healy says it’s time to reassess her career any thoughts of retirement seem to be a long way off. The star batter has now five world cup medals and four successful Ashes series wins to her name. A record any players would be proud of and up there with husband Mitch Starc and uncle Ian Healy’s performances.

While Healy starred with the bat her partner in crime Beth Mooney was far from overshadowed and the team performance in the field was a delight to any cricket loving fan.

Hats off to Australian cricket for their amazing promotion of the game and hats off to the players who were so giving of their time following their success.

Of course my biggest nod is to Santa who came though once again. Great work from the man from the Pole (obviously a cricket tragic too).

ANOTHER LOCAL STAR IN THE MAKING…

After a weekend where Women’s Cricket dominated the headlines and Warwick born, Delissa Kimmince starred in Australia’s World Cup final comes news that another local youngster is on track to follow in her footsteps.

In the lead up to the World Cup when sides were training in Brisbane, Warwick’s Lucy Bourke was thrilled to be called into the nets to bowl to members of the Aussie Squad including Ellyse Perry, Rachel Haynes and Delissa Kimmince. She was also asked to bowl to members of the Indian team. Bourke who is now based in Brisbane since going to boarding school plays grade cricket in Brisbane for Wynnum Manly but she cut her teeth playing junior cricket in Warwick and has also mixed it with the men in the A grade Warwick competition playing alongside her father Michael and plenty of rellies in the Maryvale Condamine line up.

To be called up as a net bowler for International players on the eve of a World Cup was undoubtedly a great thrill for the teenager but last week that was over shadowed to some extent when she named in the Australian Under 15 squad. The team will play in the Under 18 Championships in January next year.

For Bourke who is a gun at whatever sport she takes on it is now time to focus her efforts even more on her cricket game. There could be nothing more inspiring for her than the win by the Australians on Sunday night. Just one example of what the World Cup means to aspiring young Australian cricketers.

Lucy’s father Mick was part of the successful Maryvale premiership winning side on the weekend but nothing could trump his daughter’s selection to the Aussie Squad.

Casey.