The MCC Premier Women’s First XI have capped off a remarkable season and decade for the Club, winning the Premier Women’s Firsts Grand Final over Carlton by six wickets at the Albert Ground on Sunday.
The win establishes a dominant season for the MCC women’s program, which gleamed four Premierships across the First XI, Second XI, Third XI and under-18s divisions, as well as the Women’s Club Championship.
Betty Wilson Player of the Final, Hayleigh Brennan was exceptional with both bat and ball to set up the win for the Demons.
Her composed 32 not out off of 31 deliveries led her side's charge to victory, but it was her opening bowling combination with spinner, Ella Hayward (2/22 from 10 overs) that applied the squeeze early on Carlton.
Brennan would finish with 3/17 from her 10-over spell.
The Blues lost opener Sophie Reid in the third over to Hayward, but recovered through a combination of starts from their top order, and a long vigil of 42 from 104 balls from Nipuni Hasinka.
But from 3/100, Carlton would suffer a collapse of seven wickets for 35 runs as Anna O’Donnell (2/25), Rhiann O’Donnell (1/21) and Hasrat Gill (1/25) all claimed wickets.
A combined-effort run out between Steph Townsend and captain-coach, Teagan Parker brought Carlton’s innings of 135 to an end in the 48th over.
Despite losing Rhiann O’Donnell for one, Amy Vine for 12 and Hayward run out for 18, the Demons were never seriously troubled.
Townsend’s 41 off 70 balls steered the ship, before Brennan’s proactive innings saw Melbourne home to cue the celebrations.
Parker said post-match she was enormously proud of what each of the four Melbourne Women’s teams had achieved across the 2021/22 season.
“I’m still pinching myself and can’t believe it’s happened,” Parker said.
“I’m just so proud of this whole group. The First XI doesn’t run without everyone else around it…and these girls make it super easy for me week in week out.
“I’m very lucky (to have) the caliber of coaches around me.”
On the Men’s side of the coin, the First XI will participate in Finals and face off against Carlton at Princes Park on Saturday.
Match Result
Carlton 135 (N Hasinka 42, HM Brennan 3/17, EL Hayward 2/22) def. by Melbourne 4/139 (SG Townsend 41, HM Brennan 32, M Albers 2/30) by six wickets with 18.4 overs to spareBanner Photo Credit: Chris Thomas Photography