Universities right-arm medium pacer Nell Gibson moved into esteemed company when she took a hat-trick in the team’s seven-wicket win over Northern Districts at the Village Green on Sunday.
Gibson, 16, bowled Northern Districts No.4 Katherine Wong for one, before trapping Carey Pigram lbw and Mikaela Turik lbw to have the visitors reeling at 5-55 in the limited overs match.
She had earlier claimed the scalps of openers Madison Leach (19) and Sharon Dass (14) – both caught by wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne – to finish with 5-10 from six overs.
Those figures equalled the club record, set earlier this season by England international Laura Marsh, who also took a hat-trick for Universities in her 5-10 against Northern District.
Having rolled Northern District for 68 off 24 overs, Universities cruised to 3-71 off 16 overs to collect the points and remain unbeaten with three rounds of the competition proper to be played. Opener Alice Davidson-Richards topscored with 36 not out in the Universities reply.
Nell and her sister Maisy travel from Singleton each week to play for Universities. Her good form in the Under 17 Brewer Shield side prompted selectors to give her some First Grade experience in the latter part of the season, and she hasn’t let them down.
She is one of 11 Universities juniors in Bathurst this week contesting the NSW Combined High Schools tournament.
While Nell was busy collecting her 5-10, right-arm off-spinner Emily Mifsud collected 2-10 to take her season tally to 23, just one behind Bankstown’s Emma Newman. Emily has finished second in the wicket aggregate for the past three seasons and has three rounds, against Gordon, Sydney and Bankstown, to claim top spot before the semi-finals on March 6.
Scoreboard
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 17 (Limited overs)
First Grade: Universities 3-71 off 16.1 overs (Alice Davidson-Richards 36 not out; Tiegan Kavanagh 2-8) defeated Northern District 68 off 24.1 overs (Madison Leach 19, Lauren Smith 17; Nell Gibson 5-10 with a hat-trick, Emily Mifsud 2-10) by seven wickets at the Village Green on Sunday. Toss: Northern District. Batted first: Northern District. Points: Universities 6, Northern District 0.
Second Grade: Universities 9-148 off 50 overs (Serena Liu 32, Renee Hebden 22; Olivia Toolin 2-12, Gemma Corbett 2-25) defeated Northern District 112 off 42.3 overs (Jacinta Crawford 44; Serena Liu 2-6, Lian Lam 2-24) by 36 runs at Asquith Oval on Sunday. Toss: Northern District. Batted first: Universities. Points: Universities 6, Northern District 0.
Third Grade – Round 15 (Twenty 20)
Universities Blue 3-110 off 20 overs (Katrina Serena 30 ret, Eri Yamaguchi 27, Brooke Atkins 26; Sharon Cooper 1-7), defeated Bankstown 1-95 off 20 overs (Prudence Roebuck 31 ret, Danielle Moyes 30 ret; Vanessa White -15) by seven wickets at Walshaw Park on Saturday. Toss: Universities Blue. Batted first: Bankstown. Points: Universities Blue 6, Bankstown 0.
