The Splashe Mele Bulls have rounded out their unbeaten season winning the 2023 Womens T20 Club Championship for the 7th time in a row ahead of the likeliest challenger, North Efate Bushpigs, as Alvina Chilia’s side put Selina Solman and the and her ladies to the sword.
With two semifinals scheduled in the morning before the grand final in the afternoon, the Mighty Panther Sharks were the first opposition the bulls had to face. Batting first the bulls put on 166 runs for the loss of 5 wickets with Batter of the Tournament, Lemauri Chilia, leading the way with 66 runs and in response Vanessa Vira’s 30 of 33 wasn’t enough as the sharks only managed to put on 82 all out, sending the bulls through to the final.
The second semifinal saw the Bushpigs taking on Ifira Blackbirds. Batting first the Bushpigs through Solmans 68 put on 122 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. In response, Rachel Andrew, and the Blackbirds failed to fire though and after the loss of Andrew for 0 early, the match fell in favour of the Bushpigs, who would go on to topple Ifira regardless of a flurry of runs from Ruth Kaltongga, sending them through to the Grand Final against the Bulls.
The final would turn out to be a battle between both National Team leaders in Holiday Inn National Women’s team Captain, Solman, and Vice Captain, Alvina Chilia. Batting first the bulls captain and national vice captain was sublime. With a true captains knock of 88 of just 44 balls the bulls out 204 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
In response Solman got off to a flyer with a quickfire 24 off 12. But when Solman fell, so too did the Bushpigs who from there fell to a fantastic spell from Edna Mansale who stole the wicket of Solman on her way to 3 wickets for 9 runs off her 3 overs taking the bulls to their 7th title off the back of their independence knockout win in July with a resounding 154 run win, bowling out the Bushpigs for just 50 runs.