The Mustangs have returned to the top of the Premier Women’s First XI tree with a one-wicket victory over Geelong in Saturday’s One-Day Decider at Shepley Oval.
After suffering heartbreak in the T20 Grand Final earlier this year, Box Hill were able to redeem themselves on the final day of the women’s season.
The result marks Box Hill’s first premiership in the First XI since defeating Essendon Maribyrnong Park in the 2017-18 decider, a game which they also won by a wicket in the final over.
Mustangs allrounder Maddie Wright was awarded the Betty Wilson Medal as Player of the Final after producing figures of 2-22 off 10 overs and contributing 39 runs off 75 balls with the bat.
For Geelong their second season in the First XI comes to an end on a disappointing note having finished top of the table and won the Women’s Club Championship.
Stephen Field’s side elected to bat first in the decider and were under plenty of pressure early on, sitting at 1-26 after 10 overs.
Captain Steph Townsend and Annie Taylor then decreased some of that pressure off before Townsend was dismissed by Wright.
The floodgates then started to open for Box Hill, taking the next six wickets for just 56 runs between the 20th and 42nd overs to see the minor premiers 8-109.
A late fightback from Rebekah Morris, Chloe Sewell and Sarah Burton then pushed Geelong’s total to 9-166 by the end of their innings.
Box Hill’s top three then came out with plenty of intent with the bat, however all three were dismissed inside the first 11 overs.
Wright and Yashoda Senarathne were then able to keep cool heads in the middle overs, building a solid platform before being dismissed.
The remaining batters were then able to contribute to the run chase, but Geelong kept fighting and had Box Hill 9 down for 165 with seven balls remaining.
No.11 Jasmine Gouldson was able to survive her one and only ball of the innings before captain Vaishnavi Munukutla hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the final over.
Box Hill join Prahran’s Second XI and Carlton’s Third XI as premiers in the women’s competition this season.
Prahran was able to chase down 189 against Melbourne in the Second XI decider with three wickets in hand and 32 balls remaining.
Despite the loss, Melbourne opener Limmy Thilakarathna was named Player of the Final after scoring 73 off 75 balls, hitting nine boundaries and two maximums along the way.
In the Third XI decider Carlton were able to bowl Geelong out for 148 to secure a 13-run victory in that Grand Final at the Geelong Cricket Ground.
Carlton captain Kasvi Metha was named Player of the Final after scoring 59 not out off 80 balls, hitting seven boundaries during her innings.