Southern Districts’ Women cricketers had a day to remember on Saturday winning both the first and second grade SACA Twenty20 premierships. The first grade proved too strong for Kensington winning by 22 runs on the back of a player of the match performance from playing-coach Hannah Sampson who made 52 from 51 balls and then backed it up with the incredible figures of 3/5 from her four overs. It was a great turnaround for Southern Districts as they had lost both minor round games to Kensington earlier in the season. The second grade completed an undefeated season as they comprehensively defeated Glenelg by seven wickets after an amazing bowling display from player of the match Febi Mansell who took the scarcely believable figures of 6/5 from her four overs!

In the first grade, The Stingrays batted first and got off to a flyer taking 23 from the first two overs before four quick wickets fell to leave them in trouble at 4/47 in the ninth over. Sampson was going strong and she was joined by Rachel Andrew (25 from 26 balls) in a crucial 48-run fifth wicket stand before Andrew was dismissed. Sampson continued on to bring up her half century and Kylie Rattray made a very important 23 not out (15 balls) to lift the total to 6/128 from the 20 overs. Eliza Doddridge was the pick of the Browns bowlers snaring 3/6 (4). The Stingrays came out fired up in the field as Sampson removed the first three Kensington batters and when Shae Daly was dismissed without scoring by Kelly Armstrong (1/26), the reigning champs were on the ropes at 4/38 in the 10th over. Katelyn Pope (33 not out) and Sarah Lowe (32) added 58 for the fifth wicket to get the equation down to 34 required from 24 balls. Two run-outs and a wicket to skipper Jess O’Reilly snuffed out any chance Kensington may have had as they finished on 7/106. It was a particularly memorable day for O’Reilly and Narelle Maiolo who were both foundation players for the Stingrays as under 13’s back in 2005/06. It was Southern Districts’ first ‘A’ grade flag since 2012/13.

The second grade dominated Glenelg from the start reducing the Seahorses to 9/14 after nine overs. Febi Mansell (6/5) was the star with the ball removing former Stingrays Nicole Adams and Kate Weger within three balls (both LBW). Mansell then took a further four wickets in her next over as the procession of Glenelg wickets continued with Keely Stone (3/8 from 4 overs) getting in on the act. Akshaya Anandan (13 not out) and Kate Andrews (4 from 41 balls) hung tough for nine overs to get Glenelg to a score of 36 as they were bowled out in the 19th over. Southern Districts started their innings needing just 37 to win but in the back of their mind lurked the thought of the previous week’s game when Glenelg had bowled them out for just 33! However despite losing three wickets, the runs were knocked off in the 11th over with Mansell continuing her great day with 13 not out. It was the Stingrays second grade’s second consecutive premiership after winning the 40-over competition in 2018/19.

So an amazing Twenty20 campaign comes to an end for the Stingrays in the best possible way. Back to ‘reality’ this Sunday for the second grade as they host Adelaide University at Bice Oval from 1.00pm. The first grade can keep celebrating as they have the bye!