Sarah Andrews (cricketer) - Domestic Debut

Domestic Debut

Andrews made her senior debut for New South Wales in the 2001–02 Women's National Cricket League, playing in seven matches, all of which ended in victory. Although she was a specialist bowler who batted at the end of the tail and was never required in matches during the season, she was not entrusted with a substantial workload with the ball, sending down an average of only four overs per match. She took 0/10 from five overs in her debut against South Australia, before taking her maiden wickets in the second match of the double-header, claiming 2/7 from three overs. She took only one wicket in the next two matches against Queensland and was dropped for the double-header against Western Australia, before being recalled for the last two round-robin matches against Victoria. She did not bowl in the first, and took 1/17 from six overs in the next. The two teams met again in the finals series, and Andrews was dropped for the first match, before being recalled and taking 1/16 from four overs in the next match as New South Wales won their sixth title in a row with a 2–0 triumph. Andrews ended her first season with five wickets at 16.80 and an economy rate of 3.00.

At the end of the season, Andrews was selected for Australia Youth team to play against New Zealand and New Zealand A. She bowled her full quota of 30 overs in three matches, taking three wickets at 19.00 at an economy rate of 1.90. She also scored 21 runs at 21.00 in three innings. Her best performance was 2/13 in the last match against the senior New Zealand team.

The following season, Andrews missed the first four matches of the WNCL. She took 3/18 in her second match of the season against Queensland and took one wicket in the three other group matches. In the first final against Victoria, Andrew took 0/15 from four overs in a three-wicket defeat. She was dropped for the second final, which Victoria won to end New South Wales' six-year run. Andrews ended with six wickets at 14.83 at an economy rate of 3.17 and scored 3 runs at 3.00. She averaged less than six overs a match. At the end of the summer, she played for the Australian Under-23 team against England; she took a total of 0/47 from 19 overs in a two-innings match and scored 21 in Australia's only innings.

In 2003–04, Andrews played her first full season in the WNCL, taking to the field in all 11 of New South Wales' matches. She took only five wickets in the first five matches, including figures of 2/30 from seven overs in a tie against Victoria. She then went wicketless in the last three fixtures of the round-robin stage. In the first final against defending champions Victoria, she took 0/18 from five overs in a six-wicket defeat. She was retained for the second final despite the four consecutive wicketless matches, and took 2/28 from her ten overs to set up a five-wicket win. This was the first time in her 21 WNCL matches that Andrews had bowled a full quota of overs. In the deciding final, she was taken out of the attack after being hit for 17 runs in three overs; New South Wales ended up winning by three wickets to regain the WNCL title. Andrews ended the season with seven wickets at 36.14 at an economy rate of 3.51 and eight runs at 8.00.

Andrews was selected for the Australia Youth team to play New Zealand A at the end of the season. She took three wickets at 35.00 at an economy rate of 3.00, and hit 54 in a six-wicket defeat in the fourth and final match of the series. Before the 2004–05 season started, Andrews toured Sri Lanka in September as part of the Australian Under-23s to play against the hosts' national team. Australia won three of the four one-dayers, the other was washed-out. Andrews took six wickets at 13.00, including 3/44 in the second match, and scored 10 not out and 31 not out in her only innings. The tour ended with a first-class match against the Sri Lankan team. Andrews took 3/24 and 1/11 in a 144-run win. She also made seven and a duck on her first-class debut.

Andrews had a quiet and ineffective 2004–05 WNCL season, taking only five wickets at 44.80 at an economy rate of 3.01 from ten matches. Her best performance came in a round-robin match against Victoria, taking 2/29 in a four-wicket defeat. The teams met again in the finals. In the first match, she took 0/30 from nine overs in a 21-run win. The second m-atch saw a fightback from the Victorian bowlers, who dismissed New South Wales for 71, Andrews making 19 not out in a tail-wagging performance. She then took 1/10 from six overs but Victoria reached their target with five wickets in hand to square the series. Andrews took 0/11 from six overs to help restrict Victoria to 6/159, but she made only one before being run out as the defending champions fell 50 runs short and ceded their title. Andrews ended the season with 23 runs at 23.00.

The 2005–06 season started poorly for Andrews. She went wicketless in the first three matches, and took only three wickets in the first six matches. Her form turned around in the last two round-robin matches against Victoria. In the first match, having made ten with the bat, she took 5/16, her career best bowling performance, as New South Wales won by 48 runs. The next day, she took 3/45, helping to set up a five-wicket victory. New South Wales faced Queensland in the finals. In the first match, she took 3/35 to dismiss Queensland for 174, setting up a ten-wicket win. In the second final the following day, she made nine not out as New South Wales collapsed to be all out for 154. She took 1/32 from 10 overs as Queensland squared the series with a three-wicket victory. In the last final, Andrews could only make one as New South Wales capitulated to be all out for 146. She then took 1/18, taking the final wicket by bowling Megan White as New South Wales took a thrilling two-run win, sealing the WNCL title. Andrews ended with 20 runs at 10.00 and 16 wickets at 18.81 at an economy rate of 3.48.