Sixers fall short at Indigenous Cricket Festival

Following a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, 150 kids from five primary schools across the Greater Nowra Area took part in cricket clinics and cultural activities until the start of the first match.

Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder Women’s representative sides kicked off the afternoon, taking to the field in full WBBL|09 First Nations kit. Sixers lost the toss and were put on to bowl first.

Opening the bowling for the side in pink, Mackenzie Keeler and Charletee Keeler started strong, the latter getting the breakthrough wicket of Dharmini Chauhan (5). However, a partnership between Aimee Ravot (35) and Callee Black (33) saw Thunder reach 121 for 5 from their 20 overs.

Mackenzie posted the best figures for the pink side, finishing 1 for 14 from her four overs.

The target proved too big for the Sixers, who made it to 69 before losing their final wicket. Sixers captain, Roxanne Van-Veen top scored in their innings with 18 from 22 balls, but it wasn’t enough to take her side over the line as they fell 52 runs short in the 19^th over.

Mirroring the first game, the Sydney Thunder Men’s representative side won the toss and elected to bat first.

Opening the bowlers for the Sixers, Aiden Gibson and Luca Croft tussled with the Thunder’s top order but it was Ryan Bray who got the wicket of Kobe Ross (9). Throwing the ball around to most of the side, Sixers restricted Thunder to 134 for 8 at the end of their innings as Jack Hartigan became the top scorer of the day with a well-earned 56 supported by captain Damien Duroux with his 23.

Luca Croft was key for the Sixers, finishing with two wickets from his two overs.

The second innings saw a big 51 run partnership from Sixers captain Matt Carvosso (25) and Jakob Haines (33), taking Sixers through the middle overs but Riley Ingram got the breakthrough wicket of Carvosso, quickly followed by Haines. As momentum dropped, the side fell 38 runs short finishing 96 for 9.