TOM HAYES and LIAM DURKIN
CRICKET
By TOM HAYES and LIAM DURKIN GIPPSLAND’S own Nicole Faltum played a captain’s knock for Victoria last Thursday, brining up her maiden List A century. Faltum, alongside Ellyse Perry, smoked NSW, with the Vic’s putting up a monster 50-over score of 321 at Junction Oval. Victoria got off to the worst of starts, with Sophie Reid run out in the first over without facing a ball, bringing Perry to the crease. Perry enjoyed some time with the returning Australian captain Meg Lanning, before Lanning was dismissed in the 12th over for 29. Faltum was introduced to the fray when Annabel Sutherland was dismissed for five, allowing Faltum and Perry to create their partnership. It must be quite surreal for Faltum, captaining the current national team captain and arguably the greatest women’s cricketer in the world. Three down, the Vic’s powered through tough overs, keeping the scoreboard ticking over. In her 45-or-so overs at the crease, Perry tallied a career-best List-A score of 147 (off 125 balls), striking at 117.6, creaming 23 boundaries. Meanwhile, Faltum was also had one of her best innings’ of her career, while spending 15 overs less at the crease compared to Perry. Faltum climbed to 107 not out (110), for her maiden List-A century, smashing 16 boundaries, including two clearing the fence. Unbeaten, Faltum saw out the 50th and final over, to then stand behind the stumps as the Vic’s went out to bowl. In the field, Faltum took four catches from four separate bowlers. Despite her incredible efforts, her ton and fielding qualities were outshone by Perry, who claimed the Player-of-the-Match for her knock of 147 and 2/26. Two days later, Faltum led the Victorian’s to consecutive wins, once again backed by Perry. Against the same opponents, this time bowling first, Victoria held NSW to 283; Faltum taking a further three catches behind the stumps. With the bat, Perry produced back-to-back tons, with an innings of 130 not out (95), ending the run-chase with 67 balls to spare. Perry was with none other than Faltum, who completed the run-chase with a boundary, as she completed her short stay at the crease with 13 not out (10). Victoria travel to Queensland to play two one-dayers on Tuesday, January 17 and Thursday, January 19, before returning to Victoria to play Western Australia in early February. Understandably, a lot of towns around here lay claim to Faltum being one of their own. She played junior cricket for Trafalgar, women’s cricket for Morwell, a little bit of senior and juniors for Newborough, and lived in Moe. Not even saying ‘Latrobe Valley cricketer Nicole Faltum’ would be technically correct because Trafalgar is in Baw Baw Shire by a mere nine kilometres. For simplicity sake, let’s just say Gippsland.
