The second ever SE Female Open Age Cricket League trophy is heading up the Riddoch Highway to Naracoorte after a huge boil over in Sunday’s Grand Final.

With North Sportsman’s the clear favourite after an undefeated minor-round campaign earning a free ticket to ride into the decider, Naracoorte had to do it the hard way.

The eventual premiers had to navigate its way through a tricky semi-final clash with Mil Lel at Marist Park before meeting the Tigers in the grand finale under glorious skies at Frew Park.

Although North had been the superior allround outfit all season, the yellow and black were stunned by a Naracoorte team which turned up to play.

The Tigers folded to 62 all out thanks to some special spells from Charli Schroder and Sharnna Devereux.

Despite a last-wicket stand of 29, the Tigers’ underwhelming total was never going to be enough and Naracoorte cruised home with seven wickets and three overs in the shed.

Premiership winning coach Charlie Legoe said it was a great feeling when Erika Watson hit the winning runs.

“It was quite an exciting win by the girls,” he said.

“They bowled amazingly in the first five to seven overs and put the pressure on early.

“But to North’s credit their final wicket doubled the score and created a reasonable chase for us.

“We definitely had our moments with early wickets and dropped catches, but once we saw the finish line, it was just a matter of getting there.

“It was a very good day.”

Naracoorte enjoyed a dream start to the winner-takes-all contest when Devereux dismissed both opening bats in the first over.

However, the critical moment occurred six balls later when the form batter of the competition and North captain Fiona Young tried to take down Anna McGregor.

“She (Fiona) tried to play a reasonably big shot down the ground, over the bowler’s head, but Sharna just ran around from mid on, stuck out her hand and took the catch on the run,” Legoe said.

“I think she was surprised because she just stuck out the mit and there was the ball.

“We knew Fiona could play, so it was a big wicket and it lifted everyone.”

The fall of Young for two was just one chapter of the chaotic opening passage of the game.

After just 84 overs, the favourites North was on the brink of disaster at 9/33.

Charli Schroder made the biggest impact with 4/10, while Devereux also picked up three scalps.

Legoe said the most impressive aspect of the bowling performance was the consistency.

“We just had the motto of pitching the ball up full and straight,” he said.

“It was a pretty lively pitch, so we tried to get the ball up there and reduce the wides and things just kept rolling on.”

But watching all of the carnage at the other end was Emma Braun, who refused to give in.

She built a backs-to-the-wall stand with Jasmyn Plew to ensure the Tigers avoided total disaster.

The pair pushed the score from 33 to 62 until Plew was bowled, while Braun remained unbeaten on 25 and only joined by the extras in the double figures column in an innings which also featured five ducks.

Legoe admitted he was concerned the late flurry of runs had slightly shifted the momentum.

“The last wicket partnership that effectively doubled the score changed the game in my head,” he said.

“I did not feel that comfortable at all and warned the players we would be in trouble if North did the same thing pitching the ball up.

“If North scored another 30 to 40 runs, life might have been very tricky for us.”

Legoe had every right to be nervous at the start of the run chase when the scoreboard read 1/0 after seven balls.

The Naracoorte player who had spent the most minutes at the crease through the season Sile Legoe was trapped lbw for a golden duck.

However, Monique Crossling held her nerve to steer her team mates home.

She built solid stands with Angela Donnelly, Kim Langley and Watson to deny any hint of a Tigers’ fightback.

Earlier in the day Naracoorte secured its Grand Final berth with a solid win over Mil Lel.

Searching for redemption from last week’s final-round defeat to Mil Lel, Naracoorte’s top order responded brilliantly with five players all spending valuable time at the crease.

The strong performances helped the side post a commanding 3/107, a total that always appeared a bridge to far for Mil Lel.

McGregor was close to unplayable picking up 3/8 off four overs to limit Mil Lel to 8/64 from its 20 overs.

The premiership triumph is the cherry on top of a stunning turnaround from the team.

In the space of a year, Naracoorte has ventured from wooden spoon holders to champions and Legoe puts the improvement down to recruitment and work ethic.

“I suppose we improved the bowling and were fortunate to pick up Sharna for this year,” Legoe said.

“Charlie turned it on for the finals and Ange Donnelly and Sile Legoe held their nerves batting through the first five overs.

“We have been in situations like 5/10 before so having a steady top order made a big difference.

“We just had a well-rounded team which had a bit of pressure on everyone.”

Although the 2021-22 summer was the second edition of the South East cricket league, Naracoorte’s success has been a long time coming with its roots far deeper than that.

Coach Legoe said he felt the women’s game took a further leap this season.

“This is our fourth season as a team and from our perspective this year was the best we have ever had,” he said.

“In the first year of the South East competition we came last by a fair way, so our improvement has been very good.

“But across the board it is important everyone sticks with it and keep it going because it is all about improving skills.”