By Martin Saxon

Senior Knockout Cup: Didsbury Swordettes 1^st XI v Nantwich Vipers 1^st XI

Nantwich became the first club to retain this trophy since Chester Boughton Hall in 2009 as they completed a nailbiting one-run win.

The Vipers were pegged back in the first eight overs via economical spells of 0-12 and 2-13 respectively from Hannah Jones and Hannah Marshall but did well for the next 11 overs as Grace Michell played the anchor role and Hannah Bratt supplied the most eye-catching cameo.

Didsbury captain Roshini Prince-Navaratnam brought herself on for the final over and when she conceded just one run, many spectators thought this could be a crucial contribution, with her side now needing just 88 to win.

This very promising Nantwich attack have been bowling sides out cheaply in all competitions this year though, and they recovered superbly after Prince-Navaratnam and Kashmira Shinde took Didsbury to 35-1 after four overs. Bethan Robinson and Eleanor Sinker were among those recovering from expensive first overs to bowl three more miserly overs.

Didsbury eventually needed six from the final over, but a superbly composed effort from Izzi Pearson ensured they managed just a single from each of the first four balls, before two dot balls with a run out from each completed the match.

T20 Divisional Competition: Didsbury Swordettes 1^st XI v Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 1^st XI

Didsbury won this competition for the first time, and after two last ball finals in 2021 and another earlier in the day, they won here by a slightly more comfortable 12 runs.

After their disappointment earlier in the day, it initially seemed that it might be a double disappointment for the South Manchester club, who were 50-4 after 13 overs. Ali Cutler bowled four overs for just 11 runs, but this was surpassed by Gemma Rose’s 2-7, with both wickets being caught and bowled, the first of which was a truly spectacular effort.

It took Hannah Jones (38 not out from 30 balls) and Hannah Marshall (32 from 40) to get the scoreboard moving as they more than doubled the score in the remaining seven overs, taking their side to 106.

Chester also scored relatively slowly in the first two-thirds of the innings, but if Didsbury were already preparing to celebrate, they were given a fright by Rose, who cleared the boundary twice in her cameo of 22 – had she stayed a little longer, the result could have been different.

Jones returned to bowl the last of her four overs in the 19^th over, conceding just three here and only five in total in her four overs. The 20^th over was the last of three excellent overs of death bowling from Zara Matthews.

Their dream of being the first club since Chester in 2013 to complete a treble in Cheshire women’s cricket died earlier in the day. Didsbury, however, will still complete a double if they secure at least seven points from Sunday’s league match and clinch the League Championship in the process.

Development Knockout Cup: Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 2^nd XI v Nantwich Vipers 2^nd XI

Chester ensured they would be taking home at least one trophy after a relatively comfortable win in their first final of the Development Cup, the competition for division three and four teams.

Chester took regular wickets from the off, but Nantwich’s scoring rate remained good. Only when Flo Seymour reached the retirement score did the innings fall away. Lucy McCarten and Ava Rogers both finished with three wickets.

Chester knocked off 38 of the 91 they required via the opening stand between Ffion Jones and Holly Cooke, with the pair building the innings well and gradually accelerating at the right time. Liv Fuller’s 20 not out completed the chase with 21 balls still remaining.

Hale Barns CC was a superb host venue, and the League also extends its thanks to umpires Chris Moore, Duane Jones, John Bone and Jeff Langham.