POWERHOUSE of the Gisborne District Cricket Association’s (GDCA) women’s competition Wallan has made a positive start to the 2026/27 season, defeating Bacchus Marsh by eight wickets in A grade at Greenhill Reserve on Sunday.
The visiting Bulls won the toss and batted first, getting a couple of boundaries away early.
Opening bowler Kia Montgomery knocked over the Bacchus Marsh captain Sarah Bamford to break up any momentum, and that seemed to be the way the Magpies managed their bowling innings.
Every time the visitors built any sort of partnership, Wallan would find a breakthrough.
Wickets on club debut for recruits Luzanne de Kock and Katelyn Jackson backed up the tight bowling of Montgomery and captain Megan Farrell, who nabbed three between them.
Set a target of 104, Farrell was joined by Charli Laity at the top of the order. The latter was run out with a direct hit for just three.
Meanwhile, the captain pummelled the first ball of her season for four, and looked imperious as always on her way to another half century.
Both de Kock and Montgomery offered helpful cameos and got the Magpies home in just over 18 overs.
Farrell reached 50 with a boundary on the last shot of the game.
Meanwhile, Lancefield travelled south and was comfortably defeated by newcomers to A grade Melton Centrals, going down by eight wickets.
Nat Jeffrey (24) and Megan Richardt (18) got the Tigers off to a good start, but the Centrals’ Kim Gasior took 5/5 in four overs to swing the game heavily.
In B grade, Broadford made the long trip down to Diggers Rest to face a new team to the GDCA women’s competition who proved very strong.
Brooke Jeffrey led from the front as captain, scoring a run-a-ball 50, but the team total of 100 was short of what they needed.
Diggers Rest took 18.2 overs to chase the total for the loss of just one wicket.
Next Sunday, Wallan and Gisborne will do battle at Greenhill Reserve which will surely stamp the winner as the competition favourite.
Lancefield are on the road again, heading to Bacchus Marsh, while Broadford will host Sunbury United.
