BRITTANY Naden couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate her 15th birthday after she was selected in an Australian Merit squad at the completion of the Australian under-15 championships.
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Brittany, who hails from Wellington, was the second-highest run scorer for the tournament, despite her ACT side only getting to play three matches during the carnival, which was held in western Sydney.
During the tournament she made 22 runs against Western Australia, 20 against South Australia and in between was her crowning moment, an unbeaten knock of 90 against Tasmania off 54 balls.
Not bad for a player that considered herself a bowler prior to the titles.
For her efforts, Brittany was rewarded with a baggy green and gold cap that her mum Julie plans to get boxed as a keepsake.
Brittany plays school cricket and also spends Saturdays playing in a team with her dad Geoff in the Wellington Twenty20 competition.
“It’s a bit scary playing against the men but it’s fun as well,” she said.
“At the championships I went there mainly as a bowler but as I scored runs I started to enjoy batting.
“When I got the 90 not out one of the girls came out and asked if I wanted to know what I was on but I told her I wanted to know how many I needed.
“I needed 11 off the last over but just didn’t get the opportunity.”
Queensland were crowned champions following a dominant tournament that saw them go through undefeated.
Unfortunately for Brittany’s ACT side, they won just one of their three matches during the tournament, which saw sides play varied numbers of matches due to inclement weather.
Queensland notched up wins over New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania on their way to the title and they were also honoured with the Spirit of Cricket award.
South Australia, who proved to be the biggest challenger for Queensland, delivered the Player of the Championships in Amanda-Jade Wellington. Wellington was handy with the bat and ball in both the 40-over and twenty20 matches. One of her best performances came in her side’s seven-wicket win over New South Wales, where she scored 49 at the crease and claimed 2-18.
Wellington’s teammate Tabatha Saville was the leading run-scorer of the tournament, finishing with a total of 139, which included two half centuries.
There was a three-way tie for the leading-wicket taker award, which was shared by Queensland’s Abigail Godfrey, Victoria’s Kyra Black and Wellington.
Queensland’s Alice Smith claimed the most dismissals by a fielder, with three run-outs and four stumpings.
Australian Merit side:
Tabitha Saville (SA), Sophie Molineux (VIC), Brittany Naden (ACT), Amy Edgar (NSW), Chelsea Wood (QLD), Hannah Steele (WA), Alice Smith (QLD), Kyra Black (VIC), Abigail Godfrey (QLD), Hannah Merrit (WA), Maisy Gibson (NSW), Amanda Jade Wellington (SA).
