With the temperature predicted to hit 40 degrees and the sky filled with smoke, the girls turned up ready to give it their all in the Final for the Western Zone region.

Prior to the game starting it was determined that due to the conditions the game would be reduced to 30 overs a side with drinks breaks every 10 overs.

Blayney won the toss and elected to bowl, little did they know that Parkes wanted to bat first anyway.

Game results were -

Parkes High 7/185 in 30 overs (Maddy Spence 93, Abigail Simpson 51, Marites Woods 23, Madison Marmion 3/36 off 6 overs, Taylor Hobby 2/19 off 6 overs, Montana Marmion 1/36 off 6 overs) defeated Blayney High 6/169 in 30 overs (Ella Tilburg 35, Sophie Tilburg 31, Abbie Uhr 29 n.o, Georgina Gray 22, Maddy Spence 2/20 off 6 overs, Ellen Dolbel 2/34 off 6 overs, Abigail Simpson 1/24 off 6 overs, Gracie Jones 1/25 off 3 overs) Parkes won by 16 runs.

Batting first, Parkes High openers Maddy Spence and Marites Woods managed to put on a quick fire 53 runs before Tess was caught in the 8th over, Tess scored 23 runs (including 3 fours) from 27 balls.

Next up was Abigail Simpson who joined Maddy out in the middle where they proceeded to put on a 110 run partnership. Abi scored 51 runs (including 6 fours) from 52 balls.

Maddy Spence was eventually bowled out in the 29th over; she scored 93 runs (which included 13 fours and 2 sixes) from 81 balls.

During the innings Ellen Dolbel added 7 runs (with 1 four) before she was unfortunately run out and Holly McColl 1 run. Jordan Moody, Gracie Jones and Jolie Norman all went out and gave it a go as well.

After the lunch break the girls headed out in the heat to defend their total.

Maddy Spence (2/20) and Tess Woods (0/34) again paired up to open the bowling for Parkes but faced very determined Blayney batters.

Abi Simpson (1/24) and Gracie Jones (1/25) then joined the bowling attack with Gracie snaring the first wicket on her very first ball.

Sisters Sophie and Ella Tilburg then settled in for some batting before Ellen Dolbel ended up getting them both out.

Abigail Simpson snared the wicket of Madison Marmion, Abbie Uhr (29 n.o) and Georgina Gray then settled in and made the Parkes girls work hard (and the Parkes spectators start to worry) before Maddy Spence bowled Georgina in the 29th over and then Montana Marmion got caught the very next ball.

This meant that Blayney needed 21 runs from the last over which Parkes was not going to let them get.

Some beautiful catches were taken by Abi Simpson, Tess Woods and Maddy Spence (2) and there was some fine boundary fielding (especially Jordan Moody who put her body on the line to stop the ball). After the last ball the girls got to celebrate their very hard fought victory.

Some great team photos were then taken before the girls upended the ice water over Coach Kieran Duncan!

The girls should be super proud of their efforts; they will now face the winner of the Riverina zone.

Some big thank you's go out to Shane Jones and Paul Moody for their assistance with coaching the girls and to Shane for umpiring.

All the parents for their assistance with the transporting of girls to games and training sessions.

McDonalds Parkes for providing 2 of their Orange Bowls for ice cold water and the Spence and Simpson families for the Zooper Doopers to keep all the girls cool and hydrated and also Kerry for scoring BUT lastly to Kieran Duncan for coaching and dealing with all the paperwork that goes into organising training sessions and games for the girls.

Wishing the girls all the best of luck in their next game.

Parkes Girls into Western CHS Team.

Five Parkes girls headed over to Dubbo to try out for the Western CHS Girls Cricket team.

We were very happy to hear that Maddy Spence, Marites Woods and Abigail Simpson all gained selection to compete at the CHS State Carnival at Bathurst next February.

Congratulations girls.

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