Behind The Stumps: Inaugural WDCA women's cricket decider

Nestles vice-captain Brooke Herbertson explained that had been the case for some of her teammates who hadn't played since they were teenagers.

She's imploring the south-west community to get along to Sunday's grand final against West Warrnambool at Mack Oval, starting 1.30pm.

"I just want everyone to get along and watch us, it doesn't matter if you're not into cricket," she said.

"For everybody to come and watch and actually just watch the sportsmanship of the women.

"Everyone gets along - if someone from the other team plays a good shot, we're clapping and congratulating.

"If they ever need help, we're always helping."

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She said that display of sportsmanship could have onlookers falling in love with cricket.

It's the kind of atmosphere which has West Warrnambool's Jasmine Bowater relishing the sport.

She's looking forward to playing in the grand final with her teammates.

"They're just very welcoming and they just put 110 per cent in every week," she said.

"Everyone has a go, everyone keeps coming back and everyone encourages everyone."

She invited others to get involved in the fun next summer.

Nestles, with seven wins and one draw, has been the dominant team of the competition.

The Factory Flames have defeated the Panthers twice during the season.

But Bowater, who made an unbeaten half-century, and her teammates are coming off a strong final-round win against Grassmere Cricket Association.

"I think we just need to keep pushing like we have been," Bowater said.

"We beat Brierly the other week which was pretty big.

"And the girls, every week, are improving."

Herbertson, a wicket-keeper who also bowls, said Nestles would stick to what has worked well this summer.

"We've just got to do what we do each week, go out and support each other, play our own game and not really worry about anything else," she said.

"Just play and have fun and enjoy each other's company."

The Flames vice-captain hit her highest score, 27 retired not out, during her most recent batting performance.

Both players are keen to see the competition grow and have ideas for the future.

"I think facility-wise there needs to be a few upgrades," Bowater said.

"Just to make the women feel more comfortable."

She said examples included change rooms and toilets.

Bowater added she would love to see a pride match next summer.

Herbertson would also like to see better facilities in the future.

First she wants to have more sides added to the four-team competition.

"It would be great to have more clubs get involved, there are quite a few clubs which do have under 17 and under 14 at junior level," she said.

Jacob Hetherington (Nestles) 101*

Theo Opperman (Merrivale) 63*

Matthew Love (Brierly-Christ Church) 55

Josh Stapleton (Merrivale) 52

Aaron Williams (Port Fairy) 42

Shaluka Silva (Port Fairy) 3-15

Nick Butters (Woodford) 3-16

Tim Ryan (Russells Creek) 3-18

Bailey Jenkinson (Woodford) 3-18

David Heeps (West Warrnambool) 3-19

Mark Murphy (Brierly-Christ Church) 3-21

Fraser Lucas (Bookaar) 106*

Matthew Boyle (Cobden) 87

Travis Brown (Heytesbury Rebels) 85

Simon Harkness (Heytesbury Rebels) 72

Tim Fitzgerald (Bookaar) 60*, 3-27

Lahiru Fernando (Pomborneit) 4-16

Simon Richardson (Camperdown) 4-20

Brett Hunger (Terang) 3-6

David Weel (Simpson) 3-24

Ethan Coates (Camperdown) 3-31

Dominic Cunningham (Bookaar) 3-45

Brendan Chatfield (Killarney) 49*

Shanaka Perumpuli (Woolsthorpe/Mailors Flat) 43

Brian Wilson (Yambuk) 38

Chris Arthur (Wangoom) 36, 4-4

Phillip Edwards (Woolsthorpe/Mailors Flat) 35

David Altmann (Wangoom) 8-31

Ashley Mirtschin (Woolsthorpe/Mailors Flat) 5-11

Jarrod Croft (Grassmere) 4-26

Connor Umbers (Yambuk) 3-11

Todd D McLean (Yambuk) 2-3

Christo Rook (Yambuk) 2-6

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