From the vault: The Bears win the Women's Second Grade Premiership at the first attempt in 2024
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | May 31, 2025
After an extraordinary run of seven successive wins, including a thrilling semi-final victory over Sydney, we come to Chatswood to meet a Gordon team seeking revenge after we beat them a fortnight earlier.
But there is something different about the two teams meeting today. Gordon is a team that now fears us and our bowling strike power, and we don't just believe but know that we can win from any position. We win the toss and put them in, and it is immediately apparent that they have come prepared with a new game plan. Taking quick infield singles and slashing hard at width, the Gordon openers roll the dice in an attempt to rattle us.
It works initially, as they score at 5 runs per over for the first 5 overs. But then, Aurora Mavros jags one back off the seam to trap Bhanage in front, Eva Jenns tempts run-machine Callaghan into spooning up an easy catch, and Aurora Mavros knicks off their big-hitter Mitchell caught-behind to have Gordon reeling at 3 for 39. When Sophia Mavros spins a couple of absolute peaches past Salmon and Johnston, and Emily Aitken has Moriarty caught at slip to a lovely catch from Kayla Robson, Gordon are just about done at 6/54.
Emily Aitken took 3/28 as the Bears dismissed Gordon for 122.
But finals have a funny way of exploding expectations. Gordon keeper Kotibhaskar combines with Yates to put on a determined 65-run partnership that threatens to push Gordon's score well above the 150 mark. With the score at 119, Kotibhaskar looks to hit Sophia Mavros over the top. With the ball arcing high towards the boundary, mid-on fielder Aurora Mavros gives chase, turning and running at full sprint and finally taking a superb over-the-shoulder catch with extended arms. From that moment onwards, the Gordon batting innings is a spent force, with Emily Aitken and Alex Mavros cleaning up the 3 remaining wickets for only three additional runs. Gordon is bowled out for 122 in 39.1 overs, two runs less than their innings a fortnight prior. Another fantastic effort from our superb bowling unit!
Alex Mavros earned the Player of the Match award for her 50 off 74 balls
Running true to the script for this season, we begin the chase poorly, losing 2 for 12 before skipper Sophia Mavros comes in to steady the ship with a defensive stand. When she goes with the score on 3/61 and half the score still to get, Alex Mavros again hurts Gordon with a half-century, taking us close before she is dismissed. Aurora Mavros again remains not out to steer the team to victory under enormous pressure, with the Bears knocking off the total in the 44th over. As the team sits in their circle on the grass, reflecting on achieving the best possible result for our first year in Second Grade, all coaches and players could not be prouder of each other's efforts, passion and commitment. No one but ourselves believed we could do it, and that was all it took!
Sophia Mavros
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