THE Greater Illawarra Zone under 13s girls representative side ended their maiden Mollie Dive Shield season on a high note on Sunday.
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At Reed Park, Batemans Bay's Andrew Malcolm and his side, headlined by Shoalhaven quartet Madison Malcolm, Neve Smart (both Batemans Bay), Anna Duncan (Bomaderry) and Molly Lynch (North Nowra-Cambewarra), won the toss and chose to bat first against Inner West Harbour/South Eastern.
The side crumbled early, falling to 7-20 before Ebony Winston and Malcolm came to the crease.
These two dug their heels in and put on a 59-run eighth-wicket partnership before the former was dismissed for 33.
That knock and Malcolm's unbeaten 19 from 66 deliveries helped Greater Illawarra post 9-95 from their 30 overs.
Alice Calov (2-6) and Zahra de Wit (2-8) were the pick of the bowlers for Inner West Harbour.
In reply, only opener Isobel Glen (27) reached double-figures, as Inner West Harbour were all out for 70 in the 26th over.
Duncan was the chief destroyer for Greater Illawarra, taking 3-7 from her three overs.
Kiana Dovern chipped in with 2-4, while Ella Yates (1-5), Amelia Valdez (1-11), Nicola Hudson (1-11) and Smart (1-11) finished with one scalp.
This win, along with victories against Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Hills (2-51 to 45), Blacktown (0-60 to 7-59) and Penrith (0-44 to 43), helped Greater Illawarra finish eighth out of 15th on the ladder with a 4-3 record.
This season marked the first time a Greater Illawarra side has ever played in the Mollie Dive Shield and with the majority of the team being eligible to play again, Malcolm expects, with a strong off-season together, his team can push for finals contention in 2021-22.