Coffs Coast Charge to Big Bash Victory

Coffs Coast Chargers are Women's Regional Big Bash champions for 2020 after defeating ACT Aces by 42 runs in the final.

The Chargers had to overcome Newcastle Blasters in the first semifinal and did so by 10 wickets. Naomi McDonald was player of the match in the semi final, taking 2 wickets and hitting 43 not out.

The Blasters scrapped their way to 89 from their 20 overs but it was never enough. Maddi McGuigan top scored with 20 for the Blasters, whilst Hannah Faux was the best of the Chargers bowlers, taking 4/11 from her 4 overs. Keisha Dowsett made the highlights real with a mark Waugh style reverse flick to runout to Milah Riley. The run chase was one sided with the Chargers opening pair of Naomi McDonald (43) and Kate Rowlands (25) never troubled on their way to victory.

The second semifinal saw the ACT Aces sent into bat, and it was probably a decision the Illawarra Flames would later regret. The Aces pilled on 5/152 from their 20 overs with Kelly Rowling’s top scoring with 41.

The Flames run chase never really got going, losing wickets at crucial times. Joanne Kelly was a standout though, hitting 27. The Aces backed up their brilliant performance with the bat with some solid bowling and tight fielding, which strangling the Flames batters.

In the Final, Coffs Coast Chargers won the toss and elected to bat. A massive 114 opening run partnership Naomi McDonald and Kate Rowlands once again set the tone for the Chargers. The Aces bowlers had no answer until a late break through gave them some hope of stemming the flow of runs. Rowlands was dismissed for 35 and McDonald was run out for 90. The Chargers had set a strong total of 2/152 from their 20 overs.

The Aces were up against early losing both openers early. A 74 run partnership between Kelly Rowlings (42) and Caitlin Galeano (32) gave the Aces some hope but the run rate was slow. As the overs ticked by the mountain became too high, eventually the Aces would finish 5/110. Well short of the Chargers 152. Sophia Marvos was the pick of the Chargers bowlers with figures of 3 for 7 from two overs. It was a grand display from Coffs Coast in all departments, and a well deserved Women’s Regional Big Bash trophy heads north for season 2020.