What a wonderful start to the Waitaki Girls' High School cricket team season! On Monday, the 22nd, a team of ten amazing Waitakians made their way down to Centennial Outer Oval to face St Kevin's in a Twenty Twenty match for the first round of the Otago Secondary Schools Girls Bates Cup competition.

It started off with St Kevin's winning the toss and deciding to have a bat first. Our opening bowlers Emma Meikle and Alice Petrie definitely did their job at putting pressure on the opening batswomen from the start, with Emma Meikle gaining Waitaki’s first wicket, only the fifth ball into the game, causing a very high and energetic fielding team. The wickets just kept on coming. Some great bowling figures; Emma Meikle two wickets, four runs off three overs. Alice Petrie two wickets, 10 runs off two overs. Emily Mavor two wickets, 15 runs off three overs. Emma Fox two wickets, 14 runs off three overs. Charlotte Lane, two wickets, two runs off one over and one ball, and Isabella Martin zero wickets, two runs off 1 over. Overall a very great start to the game, getting St Kevin's all out for 49 off 13.1 overs.

The batting plan was just to relax, take our time and don’t push it too hard, too soon. Alice Petrie and Isabella Martin were the opening pair, but after a slow start and losing a couple wickets at the start, partnerships needed to be made. Isabella Martin and Emma Meikle managed to build the partnership that was needed. After a good, well played, few overs Emma Meikle hit the winning four of the game, making it Waitaki’s first win against St Kevin's for many years. Top scoring was Emma Meikle, 13, Isabella Martin, seven, Alice Petrie, four, and Emma Fox, two.

It was such a loud game. Lots of talking from all the girls, big energy all around for the whole time.

We would like to thank Ella Brown for scoring the game (and for her Valley/Waitaki Girls' coaching sessions each week). Josh Phipps for umpiring. Mrs Sonia Hudson for managing Waitaki Girls', Albion for letting us use their pitch, and to all the wonderful spectators that came to watch - especially old girl, Emma Paton, who gave great support . It was such a great time with the younger girls getting involved with some having their debut for Waitaki. Great to see all the talent coming through. Definitely a game for the history books. Bring on the round down in Dunedin.