It’s great to see the ECB getting behind Women’s Sports Week this week and going all out to encourage more women and girls to take up cricket.

While there are currently 565 women’s and girls’ clubs in England and Wales, it’s pretty clear that we can’t rest on our laurels. There are still loads of girls and women out there missing out on the best summer sport of all*, and here at CRICKETher we’re right behind the ECB in seeking to change that!

Why not get involved?

You could get your club to register online here to sign up for documents and resources suggesting new ways to attract women into cricket.

You could run a taster session at your club this summer, as a friendly way to encourage girls and women to get down to the club and have a go.

You and some friends (maybe some who have never played before) could sign up for one of four six/eight-a-side cricket festivals due to take place this summer – in Birmingham and St Albans on June 14, and Bristol and Tadcaster on June 21. There are links to sign up here.

And if you live in London, why not come along to the England Women masterclass at Hampstead Cricket Club on Sunday? From midday the best female cricketers in the country will be kick-starting Hampstead’s new women’s and girls’ coaching programme – who better to inspire them, and you, than Charlotte Edwards & co? It’ll be followed by a 25-over match, England Women vs Hampstead CC, which should be worth a watch!

CRICKETher might see you there – we’ll be heading down to Hampstead ourselves. Maybe CRICKETher’s editor will even be persuaded (after making a 9-ball duck the last time she played) to pick up a bat again.

After all… #ThisGirlCan, right?

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(*Best sport of all, full stop!)

There were no real surprises in today’s announcement of the Southern Stars squad to face England in this summer’s Women’s Ashes.

The squad is similar to that which faced England in the last series in Australia in 2014, with key threats being the powerful batting of captain Meg Lanning (recently named Wisden‘s Leading Female Cricketer in the World), and the all-round talents of Ellyse Perry.

Vice-captain Alex Blackwell and off-spinner Erin Osborne will go into the series with the advantage of having already experienced English conditions in their recent appearances for Berkshire (Blackwell) and Sussex (Osborne).

Holly Ferling, returning to the squad after a back injury which ruled her out for most of last season, will be a useful bolster to the Stars’ pace attack.

Meanwhile Victorian leg-spinner Kristen Beams will be eyeing up a place in the Test match, having made her international debut against Pakistan last August.

All-rounder Delissa Kimmince, who made her debut against New Zealand in 2008 and returned to international cricket in last year’s World Twenty20, is another notable addition to the squad for the T20 leg of the tour.

The series begins on 21 July at Taunton with the first of three ODIs.

Full squad:

• Meg Lanning (Captain)
• Alex Blackwell (Vice-Captain)
• Kristen Beams
• Nicole Bolton (Test + ODI)
• Jess Cameron
• Sarah Coyte
• Rene Farrell
• Holly Ferling
• Alyssa Healy
• Jess Jonassen
• Delissa Kimmince (T20)
• Erin Osborne
• Ellyse Perry
• Megan Schutt
• Elyse Villani

Steve Dent at Moreton-in-Marsh CC

Gloucestershire started their 2015 County Championship Division 4 campaign with a comprehensive 97-run win against Buckinghamshire at a picturesque Moreton-in-Marsh CC.

Gloucestershire Victorious

It was an excellent weekend for Middlesex, who achieved a nail-biting win against Surrey on Sunday by a mere 4 runs as Danni Warren ended with figures of 5-34. They followed this up with an 8-wicket victory against Lancashire yesterday to finish the weekend top of Division 1 with an average of 17 points.

Middlesex captain Izzy Westbury, speaking exclusively to CRICKETher, said:

“Sitting pretty at the top of the league is a novelty for us! It’s a great start, but nothing to be complacent about. We’re always striving to improve and with some tough games still ahead there’s lots to be done. We know how tough it’s going to be to keep that spot but we’re confident that we have the ability to beat any team in the league. Onwards and upwards!”

Middlesex’s main challengers for the top spot at the moment look to be Kent, who also had a successful weekend, achieving two convincing victories against both Lancashire (by 8 wickets) and Nottinghamshire (by 127 runs). Laura Marsh took a career-best 5-15 against Notts and looks set to be marking out her spot in England’s starting XI for the Ashes come July.

Meanwhile in Division 2, Staffordshire and Somerset are now joint front-runners, with both on an average of 18 points (though Somerset have played one less game). For Staffordshire, the highlight came yesterday in their 6-wicket victory over Ireland, as glove-butler Francesca James smashed 52 off 26 balls, including five sixes!

Somerset also enjoyed a huge win yesterday in their game against Devon, with Devon falling short by 118 runs as their overseas star Lizelle Lee took 3-18 in her 10 overs. Lee also starred with the bat as both she and Sophie Luff (111 and 109* respectively) hit centuries.

A full summary of the weekend’s matches is below:

DIVISION 1 – ROUND 1

Berkshire / Nottinghamshire – Alex Blackwell (38) and Heather Knight (34) starred with the bat as Berkshire hit 182-8 in their 50 overs, then bowled Notts out for just 145, with Jenny Gunn’s 52* being the only resistance. Full report here.

Kent / Lancashire Thunder – Lancashire got their total up to 180-8 thanks to Kate Cross’s 68, but Charlotte Edwards hit a half-century to take Kent to 142-2. Play had to be halted after 33 overs due to rain; and Kent won due to their superior run rate.

Surrey / Middlesex – Surrey looked to be on top after Rachel Candy’s 4-21 saw them bowl Middlesex out in only 41.4 overs for 170. But Surrey then suffered a middle-order batting collapse and ended 166 all out, with Middlesex winning by 4 runs.

Sussex / Warwickshire – Sussex beat Warwickshire convincingly by 7 wickets, as Holly Colvin’s 2-17 off 10 overs saw the Bears struggle to 148-9 in their 50 overs. A 93-run partnership between Sarah Taylor (74) and Izzy Collis (32*) then saw Sussex home. More details here.

DIVISION 1 – ROUND 2

Berkshire / Yorkshire – Yorkshire bowled Berkshire out for 104 as Danielle Hazell’s 6-28 made batting look impossible, then strolled to a 9-wicket victory thanks to big-hitting from Lauren Winfield (42*) and Katherine Brunt (41*). Full report here.

Kent / Nottinghamshire – Kent won by a mammoth 127 runs. Laura Marsh starred, hitting 58 and sharing a big partnership with Lydia Greenway (57) to take her side to 214-7, before knocking over Notts for just 87 with a career-best 5-15.

Middlesex / Lancashire Thunder – Middlesex bowled Lancashire out for 101 (captain Izzy Westbury finished with 3-15) and knocked off the required runs in just 27.3 overs, winning by 8 wickets.

Surrey / Warwickshire – in a tight game, Georgia Hennessey top-scored for Warwickshire with 66, taking her team to 176-9, which looked to be a good total after Surrey lost wickets early, including England’s Nat Sciver for her second golden duck of the season. A battling 34* from Sarah Clarke then took Surrey to within touching distance of victory – but they eventually fell short by 6 runs.

DIVISION 2 – ROUND 1

Devon / Wales – Jodie Dibble made a glorious century as Devon set Wales a target of 218, though this was reduced to 140 after rain shortened the Wales innings. Lauren Parfitt hit 46 but Wales still fell short, finishing on 136 in the allotted 32 overs.

Durham / Staffordshire – Staffordshire amassed 244 in their 50 overs thanks to brilliant innings from Evelyn Jones (115*) and Molly Strano (80*), then bowled Durham out for 150 to finish with a 94-run victory.

Essex / Ireland – In a low-scoring game, Ireland’s 139 proved to be just enough, as Essex were once again disappointing with the bat. Ireland’s Kim Garth starred with bat and ball, hitting 49* and taking 3-20 to bowl Essex out for 123, as Ireland won by 16 runs.

Worcestershire / Scotland – Abbit Aitken’s 5-34 was the highlight for Scotland, though Worcestershire still managed to clock up 211-9 in their 50 overs. Extras then top-scored for Scotland with 46, as they failed to chase down the required runs, leaving Worcestershire with a 32-run victory to their name.

DIVISION 2 – ROUND 2

Durham / Scotland – Scotland concluded a disappointing weekend by being bowled out for just 50 (including 30* from Elizabeth Priddle), to give Durham the win.

Somerset / Devon – Somerset achieved maximum points after clocking up a massive 312-2 including centuries from Lizelle Lee and Sophie Luff. Chasing a total of over 300 was always going to be a difficult ask for Devon and so it proved, as they were bowled out for 195 (Dibble 54).

Staffordshire / Ireland – ireland were bowled out for 133 and Staffordshire raced to a 6-wicket victory, thanks largely to a stonking 52 in 26 balls from keeper Francesca James, including five sixes.

Worcestershire / Wales – This proved to be the tightest encounter of the weekend, with Worcestershire emerging the victors by a mere 2 runs. Worcestershire’s Clare Boycott hit 53 and was well-supported by keeper Lauren Rowles (44) as they set Wales a target of 177. Wales were left requiring 3 off the last ball for victory, thanks to a late-order cameo by number 9 batsman Rose Evans (21). But overseas pace bowler Sian Ruck (3-28) had Evans caught off the last ball of the innings, and Worcestershire celebrated victory.

Lincolnshire’s Beth Smith at Stocksfield CC

Coming off the back of a first match victory, the Imps were hoping for a repeat performance as they travelled to Northumberland on Sunday. With overcast conditions and a green tinge in the pitch, captain for the day Rachael Dyer elected to field first and put the hosts into bat.

Amy Halloran took the new ball utilising her pace and looking to make the most of the conditions. Beth Smith came in from the other end aiming to use her experience to reduce runs and potentially pick up a wicket or two. The pair bowled well, gaining a lot of movement, but unfortunately the opening batting pair of Hawes and Gillott were unyielding.

A change of bowling to try create a breakthrough was put in place but by drinks the hosts were 150-3. Sloppy fielding and loose bowling had let the Imps down; even with some excellent moments in the field (Smith gaining a run-out and Becki Brooker taking a sharp catch), it was not to the necessary county standard required. At drinks, coach Alan Ward gave Lincs the target to not let Northumberland get more than 230 as a total, meaning the Imps had to sharpen up both in the field and with their bowling!

Lincs looked to be a different team in the second 25 overs. Wickets came from Halloran, Dyer and Smith, with further excellent pieces of fielding: another run-out for Smith, and two more sharp catches for Brooker. Halloran came back on to finish her overs from the opposite end, bowling tightly, and ending with figures of 2-32 in her 10 overs. Smith also returned to finish her overs, finally gaining a wicket (caught and bowled) after having some close chances in her first spell. She ended with 1-30.

This improved fielding performance managed to restrict the hosts to 247-7 from their 50 overs. It was a tall order, but with the pitch holding firm and with what looked a long batting line-up, Lincs felt they could chase down the runs.

India Freeman joined Smith to open the batting, with the first aim being to get to 10 overs without losing a wicket. The pair were ticking the board over steadily until Freeman received a quality delivery from Ali which cleaned her up, bringing Brooker to the middle after 4 overs. Brooker got a quick fire 12 before also receiving an unplayable delivery by Ali, and Halloran followed the next ball shuffling across her stumps to be given LBW – the irony being that Ali had to be taken off in her next over for bowling 3 no balls on height! This left Lincs 31-3 off 7.

The instructions for the incoming batsmen were now to survive for a few overs before looking to press for runs. Unfortunately, Smith was gaining new partners at a steady rate. Lucy Rollinson, Dyer and Abbie Johnson all came in then back out without troubling the scorers too much; some well-timed shots sadly went straight to fielders. Samantha White joined Smith at the crease and the two saw the Imps to drinks with the score at 80-6.

With victory now out of reach, the instructions at drinks were to use time in the middle as batting practice, and try to get as many extra batting points as possible. But even with this being said, two overs later Smith attempted to take a non-existent run to Ali and got herself run-out with a score of 34. The remaining batsmen only managed an additional 8 runs before Lincs were all out for 96 in the 34^th over.

Ultimately it was a disappointing day for the Imps as a result of 15 very poor overs in the field, resulting in 46 extras (the top scorer of the day). This, coupled with two of the top order receiving top quality deliveries and only two batsmen making double figures, means there is a lot to improve upon before the first round of the T20 competition on the 14^th June.

Full Scorecard is available here: http://lincscb.play-cricket.com/website/results/2303647

After yesterday’s big win against Nottinghamshire, Berkshire’s Beavers were brought crashing back down to earth as Yorkshire chased down 104 in less than 15 overs.

Needing 105 to win, Yorkshire skipper Lauren Winfield hit 42* and her England colleague Katherine Brunt 41*, including 3 sixes, two of them consecutively off Fi Morris, as the Vikings romped home for the loss of only 1 wicket – Beth Mooney, caught behind by Berkshire glove-butler Carla Rudd off Heather Knight for 8.

But it was earlier in the day that the damage had really been done. Berkshire captain Heather Knight won the toss, but might soon have been regretting electing to bat, as she was first back to the pavilion – caught by Mooney off Katie Levick for 16. Wickets fell steadily thereafter, with only Alex Rogers (24) offering any real resistance as England’s Dani Hazell ripped through the Beavers’ middle order, taking 6/28.

Only Alex Blackwell was perhaps somewhat unlucky – caught behind, as Lauren Winfield (at slip short leg) turned to evade a powerful sweep shot and the ball ballooned back up off her leg for Mooney to take the dolliest of dollies. Winfield later took a terrific low one-handed catch at slip to dismiss Sherissa Gumbs.

Speaking exclusively to CRICKETher after the match, Lauren Winfield credited Hazell’s remarkable bowling performance to England’s recent “Spin Camp” in Sri Lanka:

“She has been fantastic for us the last couple of games – she’s been learning her art a little bit more in Sri Lanka, in terms of trying to be attacking and take wickets. We know that she can bowl with good economy, but I think we’re seeing a different side to her game now.”

With the Women’s Ashes now coming into view over the horizon, it was certainly a performance to gladden the hearts of England fans everywhere; and with Katherine Brunt also looking as sharp as a new bag of nails, it’s setting up nicely to be an exciting summer ahead.

On a difficult batting pitch, it was Berkshire’s bowling unit that shone as they bowled Nottinghamshire out for 145 to achieve their first win of the season, triumphing by 37 runs.

Photo (C) Ruth Conchie

With Berkshire defending 182, opener Daisy Gardner, bowling with pace and movement, looked fired up from the outset, removing Notts opener Zoe Richards with only the fourth ball of their innings, LBW for a duck.

Then in Gardner’s next over, Danni Wyatt was run out. Looking to take a sharp single, backing up off an LBW appeal, she was sent back but slipped. Berkshire celebrated the wicket, but it soon became apparent that Wyatt was in some pain with her shoulder, and it was several minutes before she was able to walk off; with hospital scans later showing a dislocated shoulder and a minor muscle tear but no serious damage.

Photo (C) Ruth Conchie

It then went from bad to worse for Notts, as Sonia Odedra was adjudged to have edged Heather Knight behind for the Outlaws’ second duck, leaving them 5/3. Notts’ veteran ex-England glove-butler Jane Smit provided some fight-back in the early part of the innings, before being brilliantly caught by Heather Knight, running backwards at mid off from the bowling of Fi Morris. It was then Jenny Gunn who took up the resistance, with a cool and collected 52*, but the drip-drip-drip of wickets continued, and Gunn eventually ran out of partners as Berkshire celebrated victory in the 47th over.

Earlier, Berkshire had won the toss and elected to bat on what captain Knight described as looking like a “belter of a pitch”. However, appearances were deceptive and runs proved difficult to come by against a quality Notts attack. Opening the bowling, Sonia Odedra looked every bit an international-class bowler; while Danni Wyatt sent down 10 metronomic overs, returning an excelent 2/17.

Knight played well, taking most of the runs from an opening stand of 56 with Alex Rogers, before being comprehensively bowled, playing down the District Line to Jenny Gunn. All eyes were then looking out for Aussie superstar Alex Blackwell, but she opted to come in at her usual position of 3-down, pairing conservative stroke-play with some assertive running to keep the scoreboard ticking, if not tocking, at around 3 runs per over.

By the 40-over mark, Berkshire were 130/6. They were able to accelerate a bit in the last 10 overs, but finishing on 182, they still fell some way short of the 200 needed for maximum batting bonus points, perhaps showing the unfairness of that system in these kind of circumstances.

However, it proved to be enough for the win and by bowling Notts out, maximum bowling bonus points were achieved*.

After the game, Berkshire captain Heather Knight told CRICKETher:

“There were 500 runs scored on this pitch yesterday but it was pretty slow today! Our plan was to try and bowl really straight and our bowlers executed it brilliantly.”

Berkshire will be hoping for a repeat performance in today’s match against Yorkshire, also at Finchampstead.

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* Technically… by taking 9 wickets, maximum bowling points are achieved.

A 2-1 series* victory over Sri Lanka has moved the West Indies up to 3rd in the Women’s International Championship, pushing England down to 5th, though England have 3 games in hand, to be played against Australia as part of this summer’s Women’s Ashes.

Australia remain top of the WIC, despite having played 3 matches fewer than 2nd-placed South Africa.

The top 4 sides qualify automatically for the World Cup in England in 2017.

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* Although the full WI/SL “series” is 5 games, of which 4 are complete at time of writing, only games 2-4 count for the WIC.

Middlesex 126-7 (Wilson 46) beat Surrey 100-4 (Smith 34) by 26 runs

On a sunny summer evening at the Oval, it was Middlesex who emerged as the inaugural winners of the Pemberton Greenish Cup after Fran Wilson’s 46 saw them reach a total of 126-7 in their 20 overs.

Surrey struggled to achieve the required rate of just above 6 an over from the outset, with no runs coming off the bat until a single from Kirstie White in the third over.

And it took until the 7^th over for their first boundary, as Holly Knight drove the ball through mid-on. She was dismissed two balls later, however, holing out to Izzy Westbury at cover off the bowling of Danni Warren, leaving them 29-1.

There was hope for Surrey yet, with wickets in hand, but the pressure mounted after Alex Hartley bowled two successive maidens. With the required run rate up to 10, White attempted to hit out against Westbury’s off-spin, but sent the ball into the hands of Naomi Dattani at mid-wicket and was out for 12.

It was a spectacular low diving catch, symptomatic of Middlesex’s sharp performance in the field, which considerably restricted the ability of their opponents to score freely throughout the innings. Even England’s Nat Sciver did not look able to up the rate, hitting just 9 off 12 balls before being clean bowled by Sophia Dunkley in the 14^th over. The highlight for Surrey was a swift 34* (27 balls) from Bryony Smith, but it came too late to make a difference.

Surrey eventually finished on 100-4, falling 27 runs short of their target.

Earlier, Middlesex had been left reeling at 4-2 in the third over, after Rachel Candy clean bowled Dunkley for a duck with just the second ball of the game, then trapped Catherine Dalton lbw for 2.

But Natasha Miles fought back for Middlesex, hitting three boundaries off the next over before being bowled by Surrey’s captain Cecily Scutt for 15.

Anna Nicholls (28) then provided good support for Wilson as the pair helped Middlesex accelerate with a 57-run partnership. The runs came mainly in singles at first, but Wilson’s fluency improved throughout and she finished with four boundaries to her name.

She eventually departed in the final over, run out at the striker’s end as she and Dattani (16*) attempted to force through yet another single.

After Middlesex celebrated their victory with champagne on the outfield, captain Izzy Westbury told CRICKETher:

“I feel elated. After those first 3 overs I definitely didn’t think we’d win it! But we played as a team and everybody pulled through.

It’s given us a lot of confidence going into our next round of County Championship matches this weekend.”

Meanwhile Surrey, who are currently top of the County Championship, will be hoping for revenge in their Championship game against Middlesex at Reeds School on Sunday.

About two overs from the end of the Pemberton Greenish Cup, the scoreboards at The Oval died. It summed up a dispiriting evening for Surrey on the pitch; but off the field it was a day that was anything but disappointing.

Over 700 children from local schools packed out the pavilion for yesterday’s match. Kids from all walks of life were equally excited to be there – boys from state primaries cheered the big hits; and girls from posh, private preps applauded the clattering of stumps; all accompanied by a noisy DJ, who might have made the traditionalists frown, but who brought a sense of bounce to the occasion that held up the excitement levels even as the game drifted slightly towards the end.

Ebz Gets Into The Action In The Indoor School

Earlier in the day, a rammed indoor school had seen 300 children through bowling clinics and batting master-classes from Surrey coaching staff, with guest appearances from the captains, Cecily Scutt and Izzy Westbury.

Nat, Cecily & Rachel Candy Take Questions

One teacher at an all-girls school told us of the challenges she faces introducing cricket to the curriculum: “All the schools around us play rounders in the summer, so it’s hard to get a game; but I’m hoping that if one leads, the others will follow.”

Middlesex Enjoy Their Champagne Moment

After the match a champagne-soaked Izzy Westbury was full of praise for the leadership of Ebony Rainford-Brent, telling CRICKETher: “It’s an amazing thing to be playing a domestic cricket match with this turn-out and a lot of counties could learn a lot from it.”

Will there be better games of cricket played in this year’s Women’s County Championship? No doubt! Will there be a bigger “event” in the domestic game this season? No… and that’s why this day was important!