Another enjoyable Bush Breakers experience in the Barossa

Gunnedah product Claire McGuirk represented the NSW Country Bush Breakers at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in the Barossa Valley for the second straight year, as this year’s event took place from January 3 to 9.

The Bush Breakers were in sight of winning the women’s title when chasing a target against Victoria Country on the final day, only for the Victorians to record a tense eight-run win.

As the ladder leader, Victoria Country won the women’s title while there were no finals fixtures, after last year’s event involved Victoria Country beating Queensland Country in a decider following a win for Queensland against the Bush Breakers in a semi-final.

Having started and finished this year’s championships with narrow losses, the Bush Breakers had a five-game winning streak in between while the games were a mix of 40-overs-per-side and 20-overs-per-side.

“I think we played really well as a team,” Claire said.

“Everyone pitched in at some point.”

Claire usually batted at five or six although she had one chance to open, after being a regular opener last year.

This year’s weather was much hotter than last year’s, with temperatures sometimes topping 40 degrees amid a heatwave.

In any case, Claire said the overall experience was as good as last year’s while there were some very talented players.

“It was awesome. A great bunch of girls again,” she said.

“We had some great players. Four made the Australian merit side.”

Claire said a highlight for her was being among four players who had come through the Central North pathways. Two of the others were Bush Breakers teammates Jess Davidson (from Tamworth) and Kirsten Smith (formerly of Scone) while the other was Aleisha Middleton, formerly of Wee Waa before moving to Mackay and playing for Queensland Country.

The Bush Breakers made 9-98 in 20 overs in their first outing before PNG scraped home by one wicket at Angaston Oval.

After a catch from Claire left PNG 2-32, PNG stumbled towards the target and then lost its eighth and ninth wickets with the scores level before Mairi Tom hit the winning run with three balls to spare.

Later that same day, NSW Country made 7-141 in its 20 overs before restricting South Australia to 6-117 at Tanunda Oval.

Claire wasn’t selected in the following day’s game against Victoria Country, which crashed to 58 all out in response to NSW Country’s 20-over total of 8-138 at Barossa Park.

In the Monday fixture with Queensland Country at Tanunda, Claire came to the crease in the 32nd over with the score 5-153. She made 11 in a 40-run partnership with captain Kira Churchland, who went on to score 80 while the Bush Breakers compiled 8-227 in their 40 overs.

Claire also bowled two overs, before Queensland Country was dismissed for 191.

The NSW and Queensland teams faced off again the following day, albeit in a T20 fixture in which the Bush Breakers made 5-172 and then limited Queensland Country to 8-112 at Barossa Park.

Claire came to the crease with NSW Country 3-136 in the 17th over before she hit a boundary in her 11 not out from seven balls.

Claire’s most productive outing was on the second-last day, as the Bush Breakers had a resounding eight-wicket win at Centennial Park after Western Australia Country made only 9-87 in 20 overs.

Claire held a catch off the bowling of Alisha Joy Bates before the duo put on a 55-run opening partnership, with Claire striking two boundaries in her 23 off 21 balls.

The Bush Breakers started the final day on top of the ladder with 12 points, while Victoria Country was second with 10 points.

With four points for a win in the 40-overs-per-side matches compared with two points for a win in the T20s, the final day’s showdown involving NSW Country and Victoria Country at Centennial Park was a winner-takes-all situation.

A low-scoring thriller unfolded, with the result in doubt until the very end while a tied result would have been enough for the Bush Breakers to secure the title.

Claire’s third catch of the week left Victoria 1-35, and the next wicket fell at 61 before the defending titleholder stumbled to 137 all out in 39.3 overs.

Kate McTaggart scored a gallant 65 not out at the top of the order for the Bush Breakers in the run chase, but wickets fell regularly at the other end.

Claire made six in the number six role, before her dismissal made the score 5-78. Subsequent partnerships of 20 and 19 lifted the hopes of the Bush Breakers before they slid from 6-117 to 8-117.

The addition of 11 runs for the ninth wicket left NSW Country tantalisingly close to winning the championship, with only 10 more runs needed for victory with several overs remaining before the final two wickets fell for the addition of one run in five balls.

“We were all on the edge of our seats,” Claire said.

Claire said the result was hard to take, but that it was all part of the game.

Claire said she hoped to play in the championships again, if another chance arose.

“It’s a great event for country players to showcase their talent,” she said.

Claire meanwhile will return to playing for Northern Districts in Sydney premier cricket, as well as start a Masters in physiotherapy at University of Technology Sydney after recently completing her undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science at Macquarie University.