WESTERN'S bid to claim a winning double from Tuesday's second round of Twenty20 matches at the NSW CHS Girls Cricket Championships came up just 23 runs short.
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The home side ran out of time in their pursuit of Hunter's total of 153 at Scots All Saints College's Watson Oval but there was plenty for Western to be proud about.
After a quick start to the chase - courtesy of Parkes' Marites Woods (14) and Wellington's Amali McNeil (12) - Western soon lost four wickets in the space of just 26 runs to be in serious trouble at 4-46.
Bathurst's Chloe Stapleton (18) kept Western in touch with several leg side boundaries before Broken Hill talent Katie Letcher started to find the gaps.
Letcher saw out the rest of the innings on her way to an unbeaten 42 but couldn't quite lift the pace enough to reach the target.
It was always an intimidating target for Western to pursue, and even in defeat the team could take plenty of positives out of the match.
"It's great to see them show that determination after they lost early wickets. They were able to dig in and keep working towards that goal, even if it seemed a bit daunting," Western manager Rachel McCann said.
"Katie Letcher coming in at the middle and scoring 42 was great, but they all shared the batting around a bit today."
Earlier in the day Western comfortably chased down North Coast's total of 48 to claim their second victory of the tournament.
Western managed to pass the North Coast total before the halfway mark and went on to record a total of 6-145.
Blayney's Taylor Hobby had a match to remember with the ball, picking up figures of 4-8 from three overs in her take down of the North Coast top order.
Fellow Blayney player Dimity Parton was the next best with the ball (2-3 from two overs).
Parkes' Abigail Simpson was the standout performer with the bat as she blasted seven boundaries on her way to 60.
"It was a really convincing bowling effort, and getting someone like Hannah Faux can be a big turning point," McCann said.
"Getting those early wickets and keeping pressure on in the field was the difference."
Western finished the Twenty20 phase of the tournament with two wins and two losses.
Teams will now play 50 over matches across Wednesday and Thursday.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
