da leao： The England women’s U19 team has reached the semi-final of Australia’s Under19 Women’s State Championship, convincingly winning all four of theirmatches in the group stage
ECB Media Release06-Jan-2003The England women’s U19 team has reached the semi-final of Australia’s Under19 Women’s State Championship, convincingly winning all four of theirmatches in the group stage.England defeated Tasmania by 8 wickets on 2nd January, followed by winsagainst Western Australia by 222 runs, Victoria by 5 wickets and SouthAustralia by 6 wickets yesterday and will play New South Wales in thesemi-final tomorrow (7th Jan).Captain, Sally-Anne Briggs (Yorkshire) has been in spectacular batting form,amassing 244 runs in the four matches, including 114* against WesternAustralia. Her performances have been matched by Isa Guha (Berkshire),England’s seam bowler who made her debut for the senior team last summer,who has taken 18 wickets, with an eight-wicket haul against WA.As the Under 19 State Championship is a domestic competition, England willnot be able to contest the Final but the competition provides some valuablematch practice ahead of two One Day International matches against AustraliaU19s on 14th and 15th January.This winter tour is a first for the England women’s U19 team which has beenrestricted to playing in English summers until now. Due to increasedfunding for the women’s game, the most talented players will have the chanceto tour with England before making their debut in the senior squad.Gill McConway, ECB Executive Director for Women’s Cricket said “It’s greatto see our U19s performing so well and I’m delighted that the dedication ofplayers and support staff is paying off. It’s a competitive winter for bothour U19s and senior England team against quality opposition, and this is thebest possible start”.