West Pilbara win Desert Rose Cup

The Desert Rose Cup shaped up to be a strong competition over the weekend, as the West Pilbara side took the trophy from North in the second-ever game.

The 20-over intra-regional women’s cricket match was faster-paced than the first, with Karratha’s West Pilbara team batting first and reaching 98, while the Hedland-based North Pilbara scored 55 in their effort to catch up later in the night.

A steady accumulation of runs through the innings by West Pilbara was what gave them the edge on the scoreboard.

West Pilbara captain Jess Creighton said the team had a good variety of bowlers and had been better prepared this time.

“(We’ve had) lots more balls being bowled at us, so I reckon it’s given the girls more confidence to hit to the ball,” she said.

The winning team’s player of the match was Amanda Tots, who was coming back from a recent injury.

According to the team, she “hobbled out there” and nailed her first ball, getting dismissed when there was only one ball remaining.

Creighton said she hadn’t been a cricket fan before being roped into the team. “Go down and have a go and you find you actually do love it,” she said.

“I was always saying ‘it’s a boring sport’ but we’re always moving and waiting for the ball.”

Pilbara Regional Cricket Board chairman Chris Ams said it had been an “absolutely awesome” game of cricket.

“The quality of cricket in five months has just gone up three rungs,” he said, when presenting the trophy and accompanying potted desert rose.

Cricket clubs in Karratha are looking to introduce more women’s teams next year.