The Australian Country Cricket Championships wrapped up in the Barossa earlier this month, with a number of South Australia Country Male and Female players recognised for their individual performances.
South Australia Country Women captain Stephanie Beazleigh dominated the Championships, leading the run-scoring with 279 runs to take home the Belinda Clark Batting Award. Beazleigh’s brilliance also extended to the field, with 12 catches earning her the Lyn Fullston Fielding Award and vice-captain honours in the Team of the Year.
Teammate Evelyn Todd led the wicket tally with 12 wickets to be presented the Raelee Thompson Bowling Award, joining Beazleigh and Brittany Perry (242 runs) in the Team of the Year.
Finishing in fourth position following the minor round, the South Australia Country Women fell to eventual champions Victoria Country Women in their semi-final played at Centennial Park, Nuriootpa.
The South Australia Country Men overcame disappointing results in the T20 format to win their final four matches of the Championships, finishing runner-up behind Victoria Country Men.
Evan Gregoric was the standout performer for the South Australia Country Men, earning Team of the Year selection with 264 runs and 3 wickets, including an unbeaten rear-guard 95 from 93 balls to will South Australia to a defendable total against Victoria on day one.
Gregoric’s performance was only trumped on the final day of competition by Josh Pengelley, who hammered 109 from 46 balls against New South Wales.
Held in the renowned Barossa region from 3-10 January, the 2025 Australian Country Cricket Championships was the first occasion South Australia had hosted the competition since 2016 in Mount Gambier. The Barossa Council’s investment into community cricket facilities was evident, as players enjoyed the hospitality of the Barossa and Light Cricket Association clubs.
The Female Division of the Australian Country Cricket Championships will return to the Barossa region in 2026, with the new facility at Lyndoch Recreation Park adding to the anticipation.
Australian Country Cricket Championships – Award Winners
Female Division
Champions – Victoria
Spirit of Cricket Award – East Asia Pacific
Lyn Fullston Fielding Award – Stephanie Beazleigh (South Australia)
Jodie Purves Wicketkeeping Award – Tia Davidge (Victoria)
Raelee Thompson Bowling Award – Evelyn Todd (South Australia)
Belinda Clark Batting Award – Stephanie Beazleigh (South Australia)
Team of the Year
- Stephanie Beazleigh (vc) (South Australia)
- Brittany Perry (South Australia)
- Erica Kershaw (Victoria)
- Taylor Stumer (Queensland)
- Kira Churchland (c) (New South Wales)
- Makinley Blows (Victoria)
- Tia Davidge (wk) (Victoria)
- Catherine White (Queensland)
- Evelyn Todd (South Australia)
- Annabelle Glossop (Victoria)
- Grace Jones (Victoria)
- Tarah Staines (Queensland)
- Coach – Tamara Norquay (Victoria)
- Team Manager – Kristen Webber (Victoria)
Male Division
Champions – Victoria
Spirit of Cricket Award – New South Wales
Doug Walters Fielding Award – Michael Noble (Western Australia), Cooper Clarke-Dehring (Western Australia) & Kyle Mueller (Victoria)
Ian Healy Wicketkeeping Award – Ben Fulford (Victoria)
Bill O’Reilly Bowling Award – Graham Kennedy (Western Australia)
Sir Donald Bradman Batting Award – Brayden De Vries (Tasmania)
Team of the Year
- Dylan Hunter (New South Wales)
- Jayden Zahra-Smith (New South Wales)
- Joshua Nelson (Queensland)
- Brayden De Vries (Tasmania)
- Evan Gregoric (South Australia)
- Lee Stockdale (vc) (Victoria)
- Ben Fulford (wk) (Victoria)
- Jake Toohey (c) (Victoria)
- Graham Kennedy (Western Australia)
- Gerard McKenna (Western Australia)
- Jesse Trower (Victoria)
- Jake O’Connell (New South Wales)
- Coach – Luke Manders (Victoria)
- Team Manager – Travis Harling (Victoria)