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World Twenty20 Super 10s Review: Group A

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In the first of a series of regular columns,  James Piechowski takes a look at the group stages of the WWT20, and assesses how each of the top 8 ranked nations fared…

Group A: New Zealand power through on cruise control; Australia steady the ship through choppy waters

Final Qualifying Table

Position Team Won Lost Net Run Rate Points
1 New Zealand (Q) 4 0 +2.430 8
2 Australia (Q) 3 1 +0.613 6
3 Sri Lanka 2 2 – 0.240 4
4 South Africa 1 3 + 0.173 2
5 Ireland 0 4 -2.817 0

Q = Qualified for semi-final stage

New Zealand cruised through to the semi-finals with relatively little trouble. Many eyebrows were raised when they defeated champions Australia comprehensively at Nagpur by six wickets with almost 4 overs to spare. But it’s easy to see why they have been so successful. Their top order is packed with 5 world-class players, all in form and all at the top of their game. Their captain, Suzie Bates, is a shrewd operator who is arguably their best batsman, able to see a game through from start to finish, and offer a few overs of medium pace as well. Rachel Priest’s ability to repeatedly bludgeon the ball to the boundary is perhaps only surpassed in the side by Sophie Devine, another quality big hitter who is also very useful with the ball. She performed superbly in the final game against South Africa, taking 3-17 and scoring 27 from just 17 balls. The experience of Sara McGlashan and flexible inventiveness of Amy Sattherthwaite round out a fine top line batting order. With the ball, they have the in-form off-spinner Leigh Kasperek who, with 9 scalps, currently sits top of the wicket-taking list. This interesting article describes her Scottish roots.

She is ably supported by economical spinners Erin Bermingham and Morna Nielsen. In fact New Zealand’s only weaknesses would appear to be their batting below number 5-6, and the fact that the side have yet to be really tested in this competiton. They have been known to crumble under pressure in the not too distant past, so the other sides still do have a chance against them.

Australia made the semis comfortably enough in the end, but not without a couple of little scares along the way. A shaky start against South Africa was brought under control by the calm and experienced Alex Blackwell and Meg Lanning. But their top order was blown away by New Zealand, and even a fine recovery effort by the world’s premier all-rounder, Ellyse Perry, could not build a total high enough to defend. The performances have stabilised since, and Megan Schutt has emerged as a bowler to watch out for. In Meg Lanning, Australia have arguably the single most impressive player in the women’s game – a batter of superb technical ability, strong mentality and a captain who is always on the ball and rarely misses a trick in the field. The way in which she handles Australia’s bowling options, with regular changes of personnel to prevent the opposition batters becoming set, will be key if they are to progress to the final.

South Africa will be disappointed with their showing at this WWT20. They did not manage to live up to their performance in 2014, in which they reached the semi-finals, despite the visible improvements which have been made within the squad since then. In the final group game, the side gave a very sluggish and nervous chase in response to a modest target from Sri Lanka. They failed to use their feet and leave the crease and instead insisted on playing back and across the line. Their lack of a proactive approach was telling, as they fell 11 runs short in chasing just 114.

Notably, key players Mignon Du Preez, Lizelle Lee, Shabnim Ismail and Dane van Niekerk largely failed to fire together in concert, providing only bitty performances – which is surprising considering how effective they were in the recent series against England. I think SA will have to look at how they structure their team. Against the top sides, they appeared to be a batter short. Considering Kapp and Van Niekerk can bowl their full allocation of 4 overs, yet bat in the top 4, it seems unnecessary to field a further 4 bowlers and an all-rounder as well. Replacing one bowler with either an established batter, or the promising Laura Wolvaardt who was not included in the squad, may have served better. Instead, quality bowlers were left with spare overs, and the batting was caught short.

Jayangani (Chamari Atapattu) stood out as Sri Lanka’s best player. A smooth, fluid batter, she was strong sweeping through the leg side and harsh against width outside off. Unfortunately the rest of the team were too often short in their contributions, which hampered efforts to set challenging targets. And their bowling attack perhaps lacked the consistent threat to take early wickets in response, although was generally economical, with Kumari and Prabhodani looking promising. Weerakkody also has talent, and is a flexible player who can bat and keep wicket well. The improvements made in recent times are quite apparent – the side are now much more competitive all round, and the win against South Africa in their final game showed that.

A review of Group B will follow tomorrow.

 

From The Front Lines: Girl’s Cricket In Bexley

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By John Daniels

Cricket for girls in the London Borough of Bexley is a “Joined up Writing” venture that incorporates any entity where girls play cricket in the borough, including Bexley Cricket Club, Sidcup Cricket Club, primary schools, secondary schools and a district team that operates during the winter months that enables the girls a chance to play all year round.

It all starts with a local cricket business – Bexley District Cricket – that is the brainchild of Richard O’Sullivan, who sets the ball rolling by placing his network of fully trained coaches into over 75% of the local schools.

From that start the girls are given the opportunity to play outside of the schools environment on other coaching courses in the hope that some of the girls will eventually take up the game and join one of the two cricket clubs in the borough that run girls sections, namely Bexley CC and Sidcup CC.

Old Bexley Primary School – Kent Championship 2015

Old Bexley Primary School – Kent Championship 2015

At the moment there is very little organised cricket in the area for girls of 14+ so to compensate for this Bexley CC are formulating a Bexley Bees team that will offer the older girls a chance to carry on playing.

This team will also invite other players who have been through the Bexley system and are now playing their adult club cricket outside the borough, to form a Bexley “Invitation” team which will play friendly matches during the 2016 outdoor season.

It is hoped that this will be the first steps towards formulating regular adult women’s cricket at the club, with a goal of eventually playing league cricket.

Throughout the district, many people and organisations help to form the administration of the project: parents, schools, the local council, coaches and team managers.

Success on the field of play has been achieved at all levels, clubs, primary schools, secondary schools and the indoor district team but more importantly the structure for the purposes on sustainability is ever strengthening and this is the key factor for long term growth.

Sidcup CC – Winners of the Borough Indoor Championship 2013 - Photo Andy Clay

Sidcup CC – Winners of the Borough Indoor Championship 2013 – Photo Andy Clay

New ventures and projects are tried constantly, some successfully and some that spectacularly fail; but it is far better to try and fail than not try at all and the successful events have borne ample fruit.

Achievements around the borough include:

Bexley CC

  • North Kent Junior League under 13s girls winners (initial season) 2012
  • Kent under 11s festival day June 2010 winners
  • North Kent under 13s league winners 2011

Sidcup CC

  • Bexley Indoor Championship winners 2010, 2013,

Old Bexley Primary School

  • Kent Primary School champions 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015

Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School

  • Lady Taverners Kent Indoor Kent indoor under 13s schools winners March 2011

Townley Grammar School

  • Lady Taverners North Kent Cluster under 13s winners2013

Bexley Borough/District team (indoor winter cricket)

  • London Youth games winners 2010, runners up 2011, third place 2016

The CRICKETher Awards 2015

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With your hosts… Raf Nicholson and Syd Egan!

Best Batting Performance:  Sophie Luff

For her 152* for Bath in the National Club Final

Luff might have faced an understrength Meakins side with an average age of just 16, but you can only play what they put in front of you, and her towering performance showed a player truly in command of the crease and her game, both physically and mentally. Were we witnessing the coming-of-age of the next-but-one England captain? You read it here first!

Best Bowling Performance: Daisy Gardner

For her hat-trick for Berkshire v Sussex in the Women’s County Championship

Paige Scholfield is dismissed LBW for Daisy Gardner's hat-trick!

Paige Scholfield is dismissed LBW for Daisy Gardner’s hat-trick!

Heather Knight might have put Sussex on the back foot with her 162* but it was Daisy Gardner who broke them, dismissing England Academy batsman Georgia Adams and Paige Scholfield, bisected by the wicket of a certain Sarah Taylor – bowled for a golden duck – as the Berkshire Bullet took her first ever hat-trick in 10 years at the top level of the women’s county game.

Best Supporting Role: Didsbury WCC and Lanky the Giraffe

For their mammoth trip around the country during the Women’s Ashes

Canterbury is approximately 265 miles from Manchester, but that didn’t stop the girls from Didsbury WCC making the trip down the M6 for all four days of the Ashes Test, plus the Chelmsford and Hove Twenty20s. Complete with England flag, a special song devoted to Lancashire’s Kate Cross, and an inflatable giraffe with its own arm bands, they were impossible to miss – and why would you want to? CRICKETher for one are looking forward to seeing the #DidsburyBarmyArmy again in 2016!

Best Screenplay: Sky

For televising the Canterbury Test

While England fans might have hoped for a different result, there’s no doubt that the broadcasting of the entire Ashes series added to the excitement of the summer. The pinnacle was the live ball-by-ball coverage of Canterbury, as Sky made history by becoming the first ever broadcaster to show a women’s Test match from beginning to end in its entirety. Hats off to them for bringing women’s Test cricket to a bigger audience.

Horror of the Year: Surrey

For their 25 all out v Middlesex in the County T20 Competition

County T20 triple-headers can be long days, but Surrey seemed just a little too keen to get home on this occasion, as in their last match of the day at Merchant Taylors’ back in August they collapsed to 25 all out in the space of 13 overs. CRICKETher were there to watch as Aussie quick Julie Hunter ripped through the Surrey top-order, who barely troubled the scorers. It later transpired to be the lowest total a side has ever made in the competition. Toe-curling stuff.

Best Writing: Mel Farrell

For her report (here) on the Women’s Cricket Super League

A perfectly pitched piece which blends positivity and scepticism as it compares the WCSL to an impressionist masterpiece that “dazzles upon first glance” but is “transformed into a myriad of indistinct dots and dashes when examined up close.”

Best Song: Graham Barber

For ‘Jerusalem’ 

Lords might traditionally have its bell to signal the start of play, but everyone knows that at an England Women’s Test – from Wormsley, to the WACA, to everywhere in-between – the day doesn’t really begin until “Big G” – our one-man Barmy Army – has sung Jerusalem; reminding the players that they aren’t just playing Test cricket… they’re playing Test cricket for England.

Life-Time Achievement Award: Holly Colvin

Despite a successful comeback for Sussex – she was the leading wicket-taker in county cricket in 2015, with 31 victims and a best of 5-33 – 2015 was the year Holly decided to move on; taking a management role at the ICC in Dubai and saying farewell to a playing career in which she had basically achieved everything before the age of 20 – Ashes winner (in 2005), World Cup winner (2009) and World T20 winner (also 2009).

Holly will go down in history as the youngest person (male or female) ever to play Test cricket for England – a record which will probably never be broken now the women’s game has entered the professional era – and more importantly she’ll go down in our hearts as one of the most loved players of our era. So long “Trolley”… and thanks for all the wickets!

OPINION: Response to ‘Will The Super League Succeed Where The County Championship Has Failed?’

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In a piece which was originally published on www.womenscricket.net, women’s cricket legend and Sussex WCA Chairman Don Miles responds to CRICKETher Editor Raf Nicholson’s recent piece on the Super League, ‘Will The Super League Succeed Where The County Championship Has Failed?’, with his own thoughts on that question.

Will The Super League Succeed Where the County Championship has failed?

There are several parts to that question, one, the obvious one, of whether England players will emerge more readily when the Super League is up and running, but there are also built in assumptions.

The first is that County Cricket has been the forgotten area in the women’s game in the UK, unlike the situation in Australia (so we are told anyway) where financial support for the players at State level exists, to cover long flights and hotels. County Cricket has, the title claims, failed to deliver players to the higher level… True the article also states some of the reasons why it believes that to be true.

I would argue strongly that that is not the case. In relatively recent times England have won World Cups in both formats of the game and I relish the memories of the 2009 50-over Cup down under and the T20 match at the Oval where Claire Taylor and Beth Morgan set the crowd alight with one of the finest partnerships ever witnessed in a women’s T20. If not winning England have been there or thereabouts in both 50-over and T20 international competitions. Supporters of all teams in any sport have to get used to the fact there will be good times and lean times, times when the squad plays well and times when… well, it doesn’t.

All this does not mean, of course, that England couldn’t do better. As other blogs have remarked the choice of players – who is in the squad – who could be called in – is one that can occupy hours of discussion and no two people are likely to agree very readily. In fact it has amused me to have a ‘Law’ (‘Don’s Law’) named after me by others typing in this field. I have in recent times claimed that ‘my’ England side has never lost – the simple reason being it has never played. I can’t be the first to have said that however. I claim no  knowledge superior to anyone else (except perhaps some who write in the papers and watch perhaps one women’s game a year) but there is one point I wish to make forcefully.

2017 is getting very close. A decision must be made before Christmas and the choice quite simply is do we go into the 2017 World Cup with the current squad or do we need to blood new players – yes – play them in England shirts in South Africa in the winter and against Pakistan this coming summer.  Don’t ask them in simply to carry drinks! The end of the tour to South Africa will be too late to give any new faces a chance to settle. Players deserve a ‘run’ – a series of matches – in which to show what they can do. In one game, out for two, maybe back in for one game again, does no one’s confidence any good and frankly it is grossly unfair to judge any player on their performances if that’s the opportunity (or I’d say lack of opportunity) they are given.

And for the County set-up currently…

The cash available to a county to support (in the case of Sussex, for instance, last season) seven teams means that players have to put their hand in their pockets not just for kit as you might expect but also for petrol, training sessions, meals out when away from home, and I’m sure there’s more. County Cricket is available to those who not only have the dedication to turn up but also afford the expense (or whose parents can afford the expense). Is this different from any other sport? For instance if your daughter became wild about tennis or golf would the situation be any different? Possibly not, but I do not feel that is any kind of excuse for County Cricket becoming the poor cousin of any Super League (hereafter S/L).

Which, of course, brings me to another assumption within the title of the article. Can we find six sponsors with the necessary cash (approx £400,000 over three/four years if rumours are true)? With a number of the conditions of running this tournament not easy to reconcile with what coaches and players would normally expect; it’s an open question. I can only speculate, having no inside knowledge of anyone’s thoughts who might have that kind of cash lying around. Will it fly(?) it’s a question I hear increasingly around the boundary rope. We must wait and see I guess.

Anyone remember the Super 4s? I have written on this tournament before but it bears repeating. No one was ever really sure the purpose of it. I enjoyed watching the games – don’t get me wrong – but was it an England trial or maybe a chance for established players to make plenty of runs ahead of an international series? When some players were brought in to simply act as fielders, canon fodder for England players whose talents the ECB were well aware of, it seemed the latter. With four teams approximately 48 players were involved. Talk of the S/L suggests 55 players from this country will be required and it would not necessarily be unfair to suggest the S/L will be a diluted form of the S4s. Yes – I know it has been suggested there could be two overseas internationals in every squad but again it’s a question of will there? The WBBL in Australia seems to be getting there slowly but it has not been straightforward. So much of this is “wait and see” which is why I typed on a previous page that things were both ‘exciting and worrying’ in equal measure.

And where will the S/L sit in the player pathway? One would assume beneath the Academy, or is it the England U-19s, or is it…? A purpose other than simply a higher level of competition needs to be sorted out. As already noted, there is an argument the S4s was a higher level, but it suffered from  “what is it all about?” The S/L could go the same way if its purpose and position on the pathway is not clear.

Much is made of these “Player Pathways” in the modern jargon of most sports and cricket is no exception. Essentially you have a pyramid shape with an indication to players at the bottom how they might climb the ladder to the next stage, and ultimately to the top. In our case ‘England’ is at the tip of the pyramid. As the ancient Egyptians knew full well pyramids don’t work too well unless they have a very strong foundation. In women’s cricket, where do most people start playing the game? Well maybe at school but there are few who encourage girls to form their own teams although a particularly talented pupil might find themselves playing for one of the boy’s XIs. It’s more likely to be at club level. This is where the major problems lie it seems to me. There are a few strong clubs and a number of much weaker ones.

This is not a problem in itself as surely the object should simply be to get as many of the female persuasion as possible playing the sport, whether they have any desire or not to climb the pyramid. My feeling is the ECB has a responsibility (and ultimately it will be in ‘England’s’ interest) to encourage participation at the base of this pyramid. This seems somewhat lacking. Let’s take a specific example. You may be aware if you visited the home page recently that I drove to Kibworth to watch four teams fight it out for the National Club Championship. Chatting to the coach of one team I discovered that seven of his players didn’t feel strongly enough about club cricket, even though it was the final and a chance of some silverware, to turn up. While there may have been legitimate reasons for one or two it seems unlikely there would be for seven. One, indeed, chose instead to play for a men’s team that day. I should add a footnote here that the four U-13s and the two U-15s who replaced the regulars fielded valiantly during their match against Bath, despite an onslaught from an in-form Sophie Luff, and no criticism should be levelled at them for the inevitable defeat!

If this is indicative, and it seems likely, of the value players themselves place on the bottom of the pyramid there could be problems aplenty for England in a few years time when current top players decide their day is done.  And there’s plenty of volunteers working at club and county level, as well as Cricket Board support that is highly variable around the country.

To sum up, and I guess I should before you all drop off, I don’t feel, and never have, that County Cricket has failed anyone. It has done its best despite grave financial stringencies and has provided winning England teams in the past. I feel sure it could do so again. If I may dare to offer advice to those in higher places, make sure the pyramid is supported at the bottom, at club and then county, or there is always the risk of the entire edifice falling down.  And let’s not take the ‘trickle down’ excuse. It has never worked in economics so I can’t see why it should here. All that trickles down is the feeling a few are being supported at the expense of the many.

Despite the obvious pit-falls, let’s hope 2016 is exciting and not worrying. Whichever, I can’t wait to get back to that boundary rope again.

REPORT: Khan Hat Trick Secures Gloucestershire Promotion

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Steve Dent Reports

Gloucestershire 249 – 8 (50 overs) beat Dorset 62 all out (28.4 overs) by 187 runs

Sidra Khan’s hat trick was the highlight as Gloucestershire Women secured the Division 4 championship and promotion back to Division 3 with a comprehensive win against Dorset at Dean Park in Bournemouth. Khan’s hat trick came in fantastic figures of 5.4 – 3 – 3 – 5 with all three batters being bowled.

Sidra Khan

Sidra Khan

With most of the team departing from Gloucestershire well before 7am in the morning, it was a slightly weary group that arrived in Bournemouth at 9.15am to be greeted with a very wet square and the prospect of a delayed start. Thankfully the ground staff worked superbly to get things ready and play started 75 mins late at 12.15pm after Dorset had won the toss and decided to field. Conditions were not going to be easy with a slow wicket, very slow outfield and 90m boundaries!

Alice Hill and Charlie Walker opened the batting and continued their successful partnership with both batting intelligently and with a good understanding. With boundaries in short supply they ran plenty of singles, twos and threes as they put on 61 in 13.3 overs before Alice got a leading edge and was caught at short mid wicket for 32 from 44 balls. Bethan Moorcraft fell in exactly the same way for 6 and was then followed by Walker who again was defeated by the slow wicket, caught at short extra for 32 from 53 balls.

Naomi Forecast and Danielle Gibson then entertained the watching support with an exciting partnership. Naomi picked the gaps skilfully and Danielle attacked the bowling positively as the pair put on 65 in 10.3 overs. Gibson was then caught at short extra cover for 27 from 28 balls with 2 boundaries.

Forecast, who has been in prolific form for the U17’s this season, continued in a partnership with Eve Alder and after despatching a full toss to the mid wicket boundary, reached her first senior half century from 55 balls. She was then caught shortly after for an excellent 51. Alder and April Wells continued to push up the total as they put on 44 before Wells was bowled for 15.

Eve’s intelligent knock kept pushing the score towards the 250 mark and she and Hannah Thompson continued to hit the gaps as they put on 27 in only 3 overs without a boundary! Eve was run out from the penultimate ball of the innings for 36, with Hannah finishing on 14 not out as Gloucestershire posted 249 – 8 from their 50 overs.

After a reduced break, Gloucestershire set out to defend 249 and got off to a great start with 2 wickets in the first 5 overs for Charlie Walker as she trapped Lowman lbw for 1 and bowled Oliver without scoring to reduce Dorset to 9 – 2. Pearce and Pack then frustrated the bowlers as they put on 25 in 10 overs before Chloe Davis got an lbw decision to dismiss Pack for 11.

The introduction of Sidra Khan saw a remarkable collapse as Dorset slipped from 41 – 3 to 48 – 9 in only 3.2 overs. Khan’s hat trick came in the 21st over as she clean bowled Callaghan, Brown and Rickman to wild celebrations from everyone of her team mates – a fantastic achievement from a very popular member of the team.

Chloe Davis then chipped in with 2 further wickets, one lbw and the other a catch off her own bowling, before Charlie Walker took a smart flat catch at cover to give Khan her 4th wicket. It was Sidra who finished the match with her 5th wicket having Thomas caught behind by Laura Marshall as Dorset were bowled out for 62 in 28.4 overs.

Davis finished with a fine 3 – 26 from 10 overs of leg spin, Walker 2 – 7 from 4 overs and there were tight spells without luck from Eve Alder 0 – 7 from 4 and Alice Hill 0 – 9 from 5 overs. The star of the bowling show however was Sidra Khan with 5 – 3 from 5.4 overs.

The final wicket was met by delighted celebrations from the whole team as the win secured promotion back to Division 3. The team only dropped 1 point in their 4 games and finished with a game average of 17.75.

Coach Steve Dent commented “Today was the epitome of a team performance with every single player making a contribution to a comprehensive win. We were all so pleased for Sid who was amazing with the ball today and the celebrations for the hat trick showed what a superb team spirit exists amongst all the girls. It was also very pleasing to see Naomi Forecast get her first senior 50, hopefully the first of many for her. At the beginning of the season we set out to achieve promotion back to Division 3 and I have nothing but admiration for how the team have gone about this throughout the season. We have plenty of challenges ahead in 2016, but have a young improving squad and the future for women’s cricket in the county is very exciting”

REPORT: Wistaston Retain Title on Cheshire T20 Finals Day

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Martin Saxon Reports

Cup Final 

Wistaston Swans 100-4 (20; Hannah Thornhill 26ret, Katie Haszeldine 20*)

Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 80-5 (20; Beth Nicholson 22*, Thornhill 3-14)

Wistaston Swans are the T20 champions of Cheshire women’s cricket for the second year in succession after an all round display saw off Chester Boughton Hall Deemons. The experience of captain Alison Smith and Laura Newton had played a major part in getting them to the final, but here some of their many talented young players made significant contributions.

Despite scoring very few boundaries, some excellent rotation of the strike saw them reach three figures. Then Hannah Thornhill, who had top scored with the bat, took the key wickets at the start of the Chester reply.

From 25-4, Beth Nicholson and Maeve Sparks managed to put a partnership together, but the asking rate proved just too high. Katie Haszeldine, Hannah Bratt and Abbie Adams supplied some tight overs, all backed up by some excellent fielding.

Wistaston can now make it a T20 double by winning next Sunday’s Knockout Cup Final, where Chester once again provide their opposition.

Scorecard

Plate Final 

Oakmere Kats 103-5 (20; Shami Ahmed 27ret, Kate Skelhorn 25ret, Vicky Heaton 21*, Olivia Teasdale 2-11)

Trafford MV 34 (11.3; Vicky Dean 18, Sarah Worsdale 7-2, Rachel Tidd 2-17)

Earlier in the day, Oakmere comprehensively won the Plate Final. There can be few better occasions than a final to produce a record breaking bowling performance, but Sarah Worsdale’s return here was not only the best recorded in the history of this competition, it is also a record for any competition run by the League.

Chasing a stiff total, Trafford had reached 27 for no loss, but were already falling behind the asking rate after a miserly spell from Kate Skelhorn. Then the procession of batsmen back to the pavilion started when Worsdale claimed a hat-trick that included the prize scalps of Penny Critchlow and Carol Ingham. She continued to hit the stumps with remarkable regularity thereafter to claim her record haul.

Very few women cricketers anywhere in England get to experience the nerves and excitement that come from a cup final, so this day in the Cheshire League calendar is genuinely a unique occasion.

Scorecard

REPORT: Appleton Crowned Cheshire Women’s League Champions

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Martin Saxon reports

With one week of its most closely fought season to go, the Cheshire Women’s League has crowned Appleton as its 2015 champions. The Warrington-based club had previously won the league on three successive occasions between 2010 and 2012, and had finished runners-up in the last two seasons.

Appleton now have an unassailable lead after a day when all matches started but were eventually abandoned due to rain. They did however have time to produce another miserly bowling display to demonstrate what worthy champions they are. 2014 champions Oakmere will finish as runners-up.

Appleton’s fourth title success was a genuine team effort, but it has been a superb season for opening bowler Annie Rashid, with more than 20 wickets at just two runs per over. Sami Fowler has made major contributions with bat and ball, Kathryn Jackson has made huge strides as a bowler this year and the ever-dependable captain Emma Barlow has again averaged over 30 in her opening bat position.

The other sides have not made life easy for Appleton this year. Any match between the top eight can genuinely go either way on the day, illustrated by one of Appleton’s defeats against second division champions Didsbury. The League has an innovative format where in the top two divisions, each team plays the others in their division at home and away, plus one fixture against each of the teams in the other division, making 13 matches in total. One up one down promotion and relegation will apply between the two divisions.

With all of the League’s showpiece occasions so far this year having been affected by rain, the League is genuinely hoping for better luck this coming Sunday when the Cup and Plate Finals of the T20 Divisional Competition are scheduled to be played at Alderley Edge CC, widely regarded as one of Cheshire’s very best grounds.

Oakmere Kats will play Trafford MV in the Plate Final at 11.30, a repeat of the 2010 Plate Final when Oakmere won. A victory would be Oakmere’s third Plate success, while Trafford are seeking to win the trophy for the second time.

Laura Newton and her Wistaston Swans team mates defend their crown in the Cup Final at 15.00, and once again face Chester Boughton Hall Deemons, after Wistaston’s resounding victory in last year’s final. Chester have won this competition on four previous occasions though.

Sadly, the League’s recent annual fixture versus MCC was also cancelled due to rain. Newton was due to captain the Cheshire Women’s League XI, with Claire Taylor in the MCC team.

MATCH REPORT: Cumbria Beat Lincolnshire But Young Imps Shine

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Beth Smith reports from Netherfield CC.

The Imps were on the road again on Sunday, travelling up to Cumbria with an extremely young side: the average age of the travelling team was just 18! The first game for Lincs was against the hosts, Cumbria – the first time the teams had met this season. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.

Two of the four senior players for Lincs, Amy Halloran (1-17) and Sarah McDowell (0-19), took the new ball and Cumbria got off to a quick start reaching 30-1 off the first 4 overs; the wicket coming from Halloran when the first junior got into the action with Ellie Stanley (U15) taking a sharp catch.

More experience came with the first change as Beth Smith took over from Halloran, opening her spell with a wicket maiden as U17 keeper India Freeman used quick hands to get Montgomery stumped, leaving the hosts 30-2 off 5. The mini Imps – Sammy-Jo Boothright (U15), Olivia Clark (U15), Becki Brooker (U17) and Amelia Gardner (U15) – then had their chance to shine, bowling in tandem with Smith before taking over completely to bowl the remaining overs.

Smith ended her overs with 2-17, her second wicket coming when Cowper skied a ball towards the youngest player in the squad, Clark (13), who took the challenging catch off her manager’s bowling which left the hosts 62-3. The mini Imps bowled their lines and length with Brooker (1-29) and Gardner (1-16) each gaining a deserved wicket. But the strength and experience of the more senior Cumbria batsmen came through as they more than doubled their halfway score ending on 145-5 with Sykes finishing on 48*.

Opening U17 pair, Freeman and Brooker, opened for the Ladies in reply and got off to a solid start with a partnership of 47 before Freeman was run out looking to increase the run rate. Halloran joined an in-form Brooker at the crease and the two stayed there for the remaining overs; both batted elegantly with prominent U17 captain Brooker showing her talent and reaching her 50.

However, tight bowling leading to a slow start meant the Imps required 26 off the last over. 2 dot balls and 3 singles were taken before Brooker, looking to end the innings in style, mistimed her shot and ended up caught and bowled on the last ball for 56.

A loss in the first game and the second being abandoned due to rain meant a dull day for the Imps, but spirits were kept high and the ladies will return to Cumbria on 30th August to face the same team in the 50-over format and will look to seek revenge. The mini Imps all held their own and their performances bode well for the rest of their respective Junior seasons: two 40-over games and the annual Malvern Tour for the U15s to look forward to, with the U17s having a T20 round left, along with five 45-over games.

A full scorecard can be found here.

Gloucestershire Maintain 100% Record with Comprehensive Win

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Steve Dent reports from Bedminster CC

Gloucestershire maintained their 100% record in the 50-over county championship with a comprehensive 178-run win against Wiltshire at Bedminster CC.

After winning the toss and batting, openers Abby Evans and Charlie Walker started positively with quick running and positive stroke play. With the total on 41, Walker was unluckily run out backing up for a bright 19 off 31 balls. Bethan Moorcraft joined Evans and the pair proceeded to put together a large partnership. Every time the Wiltshire bowlers erred in line or length, both players took advantage and the scoring rate accelerated.

Evans reached her fifty first with Moorcraft following not far behind as the pair put on 141. Moorcraft was run out for 50 from 76 balls with 4 boundaries, but Evans then proceeded to dominate the rest of the innings; she reached a superb hundred from 137 balls as she shared in partnerships of 42 with Naomi Forecast (14) and Amelia Andrew (24* from 14 balls). She was run out on the last ball of the innings for a high class 132, including 20 boundaries, as Gloucestershire finished on 284-4 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Wiltshire never really showed any intent to chase the target down and set out to frustrate the Gloucestershire bowlers. It took until the 10th over before the breakthrough was made by Eve Alder and the bowlers had to remain patient. The introduction of spinners Abby Evans and Chloe Davis saw more wicket-taking opportunities emerge and Evans trapped Wakeling and Morgan lbw in her spell of 2-20 off 10 overs. Davis took the wicket of Amore with another lbw decision before a series of run outs set Wiltshire further back. Naomi Forecast pounced at backward point to run out More and this was followed by direct hit runs outs from Amelia Andrew and Evans as Wiltshire fell to 79-7.

The reintroduction of Alder saw her trap Farrant lbw before a superb catch diving forward at short extra cover by Chloe Davis gave Charlie Walker her first wicket. A last wicket partnership of 20 frustrated Gloucestershire. but with the total on 106, Davis took a return catch off her own bowling to end the Wiltshire innings. Davis finished with 2-20 from 7.3 overs, Eve Alder ended with 2-23 and Walker 1-25.

Coach Steve Dent said afterwards: “Abby’s high class century was a real highlight today and continues her excellent form this season. She batted all the way through the 50 overs and gave us the platform for a significant score. We kept the pressure on the Wiltshire batters with some disciplined bowling and fielding and the win consolidates our position at the top of Division Four.”

Gloucestershire are next in action in the County T20 competition against Scotland and Devon on 2nd August at Frocester CC.

MATCH REPORT: Youngsters Shine for Lincolnshire in T20 Triple-Header

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Beth Smith reports from Ellesmere College

On Sunday in the latest round of county T20s, the Imps travelled across to Shropshire with their youngest side of the season so far – 5 U15 players making their Ladies’ debut. The first game for Lincolnshire was against Northumberland who they had previously lost to in the 50-over format. Captain Hayley Butts won the toss and put Northumberland in to bat.

With Sarah McDowell playing behind the stumps for the day and the regular opening bowlers not playing, Beth Smith was handed the ball for the first over. Lincs were alert in the field from the start, gaining a run-out with the first ball of the day! The second over went to one of the debutants, Sammy-Jo Boothright (1-21), who combined with another debutant, Charlotte Moore, to pick up her first senior wicket, leaving Northumberland 5-2.

The scoreboard ticked over slowly and there were some chances put down in the field by Lincs, but this altered with a catch at gully by the captain, giving Smith her first wicket of the day. A small partnership formed before quick hands by McDowell removed Sergeant off Smith’s bowling. Two more quick wickets by Smith (4-22) left the batting side 46-6 inside 10 overs.

Rachael Dyer came on and bowled very economically for no wickets (0-6), followed by U15 debutant Olivia Clark (0-5). At the other end opening U15 bowler Megan Quinlan (1-11), also making her debut, took the only other wicket to fall in Northumberland’s innings, combining with U17 Alexia Page-Graves. Northumberland ended at 93-7 so Lincs required 94 for victory.

There was a sense of de-ja-vu as Smith was caught out to only the second ball of the Imps reply. This brought Page-Graves to the middle to join U17 captain Becki Brooker. The duo had built a platform for a partnership before a ball popped, clipping the shoulder of Page-Graves’ (14) bat, giving a simple catch for the fielder at slip. McDowell (4) came to the middle and managed a boundary before being caught in front of the bat bringing Butts to the middle.

Brooker (15) looked to be in good form until she went to play across a ball that kept very low off the pitch, bringing Dyer to join Butts at the crease. The two batted well together getting ever closer to the target, but Butts was then bowled, leaving Dyer to take on the senior role, as four of the U15’s joined her one after the other in the middle. In the end it was Dyer (20*) and Boothright (7*) who saw the Imps over the line, in a game that the Imps felt was much closer than it should have been.

The parallel first game saw the hosts post 99-8 off their 20 overs. Cumbria were 46-8 after 14 overs before the heavens opened, and the rain-affected game meant Shropshire won on run rate. Lunch was taken as the rain continued to fall; this resulted in a 3hr delay before the second games could get started, and saw each match reduced to 10 overs.

In Lincolnshire’s second game, against Shropshire, Butts won the toss and elected to bat. Lincs struggled to set a target of 47-5 from their 10 overs on a pitch that could do anything at any moment, as Brooker found out when bowled first ball. Page-Graves came to join Smith at the crease with the aim to score quickly, with the game only being 10 overs. However, she swung and skied her second ball straight to a fielder leaving Lincs 3-2.

Butts (4), Smith (11) and McDowell (5) were the last three wickets to fall, leaving Dyer and debutant Hermione Baxter-Chinery to push the score as high as they could – Baxter-Chinery showing her pace to get 3 off the last ball.

Shropshire were strong in reply. The Imps managed to take 1 wicket when two of the young guns combined with Baxter-Chinery taking a high catch off Quinlan’s bowling, but Shropshire reached the target within 5 overs.

The game between Northumberland and Cumbria ended with Cumbria reaching their target of 52 in 9.1 overs for the loss of 3 wickets.

Although there was only one result going the Imps way, it is a very good sign of the talent coming through the Lincs set-up, and it will not be the last time these girls get a call-up for the Ladies. It was a very proud moment for this reporter to play alongside 5 of the girls from the junior team she manages, and she could not have been happier with the performances they each put in.

Scorecards for the above matches can be found here.