SAMIRA Mitchell's busy summer of cricket isn't slowing down.
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The 15-year-old played with Coffs Coast Chargers against ACT Aces on Monday evening in the Women's Regional Big Bash final at North Sydney Oval. Next week she's off to Bathurst with the Hunter side to play in the NSW Combined High Schools championship, where she hopes to earn a spot in the State squad.
Earlier Samira was the leading run scorer in the NSW Country under 16s championship played in Tamworth, where she played for NSW Coastal. She was then the top batter for North Coastal under 19s at the country championships.
An opening bat, Samira captained the Mid North Coast boy's under 14 team at a carnival played in Newcastle, where, again she was the team's top run getter.
Samira is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, taking home a $50 open order from Iguana.
However, it hasn't been entirely good news. Coffs Chargers were beaten in the final over by ACT in the regional final, a game where they started favourites. Still, Samira said just getting the opportunity to play at that level and at North Sydney Oval, was 'unbelievable.'
"I was just so excited,'' she said.
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Samira opened the batting in the run chase and was going along nicely until she was run out for 13.
"I was well short,'' she said.
The first round of the Big Bash against Newcastle was washed out and Coffs went straight through to the finals on results from last year. It was then Samira was approached by North Coast official Kate Jackson to join the squad.
"We didn't train together, but I'd played against some of the players in rep games and one of my rep coaches was also in the side, so that was okay.''
Now she's had a taste of cricket at that level, Samira wants more.
"I'd love to get picked again next season and hopefully win the title back,'' she smiled.
Samira started playing cricket three years ago.
"I used to go and watch my brothers play and I just decided I wanted a game,'' she explained.
However, she did have the opportunity to see some cricket royalty close up, as her dad, Craig, won a competition run in conjunction with the BBL a few years ago that saw luminaries such as Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist visit their place for a backyard game.
She now plays in the Manning junior competition along with Taree West in third grade as well as
To play in the WBBL - that's what I'm striving for
- Sport award winner Samira Mitchell
Samira is one of just a few girls playing cricket in the Manning. But that doesn't faze her.
"I think it's more of a challenge playing against the boys,'' she said.
She assures there's little sledging.
"I get a few bouncers bowled at me, but that's part of the game,'' she reasons.
Her performance in the Country 16s was particularly outstanding, with Samira scoring 148 runs at 49.33. The next best aggregate was 89.
Samira also earned a player of the match award in the under 19 championship match against Central Northern when she scored 46 from 46 balls to steer North Coastal to a seven wicket victory.
She already has one century - 101, to her credit, scored for Manning in an inter-district clash against Hastings last season.
Netball, touch football and league tag are her other sporting passions. She's represented Manning Valley Netball at State level and heads to Port Macquarie this month with the Taree under 16s girls for the State Junior Cup.
However, cricket's number one, she said. And she wants to follow the path of another Manning cricket product, Maitlan Brown.
"To play in the WBBL,'' Samira quickly replied when asked her goal.
"That's what I'm striving for.''
