Junior cricketer's state honours

Hannah.

REPRESENTING your state in your favourite sport is one thing, but being ranked the best Tasmanian and equal 21st nationally is another! That's exactly what 13-year-old Hannah Mann has done while playing for the state under 15 girls' team in the national cricket championships at Western Sydney recently.

The girls played against all the other states and the ACT (NSW having two teams) and in doing so Hannah scored 113 runs from seven innings with a high score of 46 off 42 balls (5x4s, 1x6) and captured five wickets with best figures of 3 for 11 off 3 overs. She also took two catches. Hannah was cheered along by her mum Georgina, nan Irene and aunt Debra who flew over for the big occasion.

Being the best ranked Tasmanian and 21st overall is a excellent achievement for the keen cricketer who plays for the Gretna Under 15s and spends many hours practicing with her dad Jarrad and brother Jacksyn who is another fine young cricketer.

"It was a really great experience," Hannah told Tyga FM's Weekend Sports Wrap. "To see how skilful some of the girls were was pretty good - some teams even had their own masseurs," she said.

The team was coached by Adam Drinkwell and Mia Blignaut, and finished sixth out of eight teams and won the Spirt of Cricket Award.  The team also recorded the highest score by a Tasmanian under 15 girls side twice. This happened in their first match when they made 10 for 162 in their win over Western Australia and then amazingly broke that record by making 10 for 180 in the last match against Queensland for fifth spot. Tassie fell just four runs shy of Queensland's 8 for 184. Hannah's highest score of 46 came in this match. NSW was the eventual winner, defeating Victoria in the final.

Hannah and the team have done Tasmania very proud. If her efforts are any indication, it won't be long until we see her in the state women's team. Hannah's team-mate and vice captain, Rhianne Hack of Launceston, finished third in the overall rankings is the grand-daughter of Geoff and Libby Hack of Lachlan.

You can see all Hannah's statistics and all match results at www.nationalchamps.com.au

Story and photo by WADE GLEESON

Tasmanian U15 Girls Team

Olivia McDonald (c) - Clarence

Rhianne Hack (vc) - Launceston

Madeline Clarke - Burnie Hurricanes

Zoe Lowry - Latrobe

Jessica Schnoor - Westbury

Emma Manix-Geeves - Launceston

Sophie Parkin - South Launceston

Joni-Marie Els -South Launceston

Courtney Webb - South Launceston

Phoebe Barnett - George Town

Sophie Alomes - Glenorchy

Emma Molnar - New Town

Hannah Mann - Gretna