The MCC reached their target of 151 off the final ball of their allotted 40 overs – the first time that this annual fixture had gone to the final ball since MCC’s two run victory in 2017.
It took a women’s cricket legend in the shape of Claire Taylor – a double World Cup winner in 2009 and the first female Wisden Cricketer of the Year – to get MCC over the line. Without her efforts, the League XI attack would have been confident that 50 from the final six overs would have been out of reach.
Taylor unleashed her full range of shots in a genuine batting exhibition, with the second scooped boundary levelling the scores from the penultimate ball. The winning run then took her to 38 not out from 25 deliveries.
MCC had to mount something of a recovery after fine opening spells from Bella Woodside and Becca Othick reduced them to 14-3. Tina Gough (55) and Madi Arthur (23) added 83 for the fourth wicket, but the run rate never accelerated significantly. When both fell in quick succession, it looked like the CWCL were set for a fourth win in five years in this fixture, before Taylor’s final flourish turned the match.
As the youngest member of the League XI, Woodside had a senior representative debut to remember, finishing with 2-14 from her eight overs. Poppy Smith also contributed an economical spell of four overs for nine runs. Othick and Hannah Marshall contributed two wickets each, and if their figures were a little less economical, this was simply a reflection of being asked to bowl at the business end of the match.
Earlier in the day, the League team reached 150 in 40 overs, with Ali Cutler top scoring with 48 in the second half of the innings. Whilst there would be no half century, it was still her highest score from the several occasions she has played in this fixture. Danni Warren’s 3-20 played a major role in restricting the scoring rate in the first half of the innings. Could the League XI have posted a higher total and made the run chase harder? That might possibly be the case, although the MCC’s run rate worm was below that of the League XI all the way until the final two deliveries.
In addition to a former England superstar in the MCC team, we also welcomed an international umpire as Jasmine Naeem officiated alongside the League’s Umpires and Scorers Officer Duane Jones.
The event formed part of Chester Boughton Hall’s 150th anniversary celebrations, with the MCC men’s team playing on the club’s second ground at the same time. The League’s thanks go everyone at Chester who made the day so special. This match certainly remains one of the highlights of the Cheshire cricket calendar.
The League XI selection was:
Nicole Fisher (captain, Chester BH)
Rosie Davis (Didsbury)
Ali Cutler (Chester BH)
Kate Gaging (Leigh)
Heidi Cheadle (Stockport Georgians)
Sarah Parker (Lindow)
Bella Woodside (Stockport Georgians)
Becca Othick (Appleton)
Georgia Munro (Chester BH)
Poppy Smith (Hawarden Park)
Hannah Marshall (Didsbury)
Additional fielders –Bella Williams (Hawarden Park) & Zoe Rigley (Didsbury)
Scorers - Nicola Deane (Hawarden Park) & Gill Short (Chester BH)
CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Division One – July 23:
Nantwich v Appleton: Nantwich made the most of being the only team to host a completed match on yet another wet Sunday. Their varied bowling attack is surely one of the best in the league and no team can rest easy when chasing against them, no matter how small their target. Indeed, the target here for Appleton was a fairly challenging 142, with Nantwich’s batters having scored well in the middle overs. Then it was over to the likes of Eleanor Sinker, surely one of the best acquisitions made by a CWCL club this year – she took 3-12 as the Warrington club managed just 58.
Stockport Georgians v Didsbury, Chester Boughton Hall v Upton, Oakmere v Leigh – all cancelled due to rain
July 30:
Nantwich v Didsbury: Sadly there were more additions to the significant number of matches this season which have commenced but then not completed due to weather conditions. This included this potentially vital top of the table match, where Nantwich were initially tied down by Hannah Jones’ eight over spell where she conceded just three runs. Madi Hudson then made 67 – more than half the final total of 127. Although the last five wickets fell to the bowling of Zara Matthews and Roshini Prince-Navaratnam without the addition of a run, this total might have been defendable given the South Cheshire club’s recent bowling form. Unfortunately, we will never know what would have happened had a resumption after tea been possible, and Didsbury still lead the title race by six points from Nantwich.
Appleton v Leigh: Leigh’s bowlers did a great job in keeping Appleton down to 102, but this was another match where the second innings never commenced due to rain. Kasey Bentham’s two for five in eight overs and Millie Baldwin’s two runs conceded in five were the most eye-catching contributions. Weather permitting, retaining the title is still in Leigh’s hands, as they will go top by one point if they win their game in hand next Sunday.
Stockport Georgians v Upton: There were only 31 overs of cricket in Stockport, but that was nothing to do with the rain. Upton were bowled out inside 24 overs and Georgians raced to their target with 32.5 overs in hand. Upton were already on the back foot at 50-4 when Emily Thomas produced a hat-trick, and she finished with 5-17 as the Wirral side were all out for 58. Skye Thomas and Heidi Cheadle then both scored at more than one run per ball to complete the chase in a hurry.
Oakmere v Chester Boughton Hall: This game was abandoned shortly before the end of the first innings. Oakmere scored 143 and banked five bonus points in the process in their fight to avoid the drop. Amy Jones (33 runs) and Chester’s Gemma Rose (3-12 in eight overs) were the players who boosted their individual statistics by the most significant amount.
Division Two – July 30:
Hawarden Park v Leyland: Just 24 overs possible here, where Leyland kept Hawarden’s scoring rate down below three runs per over.
Lindow w/o Oxton
Division Three East – July 20:
Didsbury 2nd XI v Buxton: This was the first encounter between these sides, who were both unbeaten prior to the game. Buxton kept Didsbury down to 80 in 20 overs, with Kelly Bunting returning the most economical figures. Georgina Macey got the Buxton reply off to a flying start and they eventually got home with 17 balls to spare. Didsbury’s hopes of winning the title may now hinge on them winning the return fixture on August 20 by a sufficiently large margin.
Division Four West – July 17:
Oakmere 2nd XI v Alvanley: Rachel Tidd’s 29 and 3-9 couldn’t quite get Oakmere over the line, as Alvanley secured a tie, with Shauna Greenwood’s 3-10 being their major contribution. There may have been nothing to separate the teams here, but the league table still showed Alvanley with a 15-point advantage over Oakmere 2s following this match.
July 21:
Oakmere 2nd XI w/o Toft
July 27:
Wistaston Village v Oakmere: Emily Faulkner had a superb match, recording 30 retired and 3-7 in five overs as Oakmere seconds signed off with a win, becoming the first team in the league to complete their 2023 fixture programme. This win for the Northwich club left them 35 points ahead at the top, setting a target for Alvanley to overhaul in their final two matches.
July 30:
Alvanley v Wistaston Village: Alvanley duly gained 25 of those 35 points with a huge 10-wicket win here. Just ten points from their final match against Lymm on August 13 will see them win the title.
Division Four East – July 25:
Heaton Mersey & Cheadle v Buxton 2nd XI: Eliza Chadwick’s superb figures of 5-12 bowled Buxton out cheaply, ensuring Heaton Mersey & Cheadle comfortably defended their first innings score of 82.
July 30:
Macclesfield v Buxton 2nd XI: Michelle Lloyd and Charlotte Lloyd played the major roles as Macclesfield reached 94 in 20 overs. Buxton fell 11 runs short to fall to a second successive defeat, and while they still top the table, Langley have several games in hand.
Permanent transfers:
Alexa Harrison – Oxton to Upton
Dual player registrations:
Rosie Bradshaw, Grace Evans – Hayfield in main league competition, Stockport Trinity in T20 competitions
Whoever eventually lifts the Division 1 trophy in September, one thing is for sure, no one will do it as unbeaten champions. Not only has only one club retained the League Championship since 2012, but there have been precious few instances of a side going through the season unbeaten in the last 17 years. Indeed, winning Division 1 with a perfect record remains something that has only been done by Chester Boughton Hall. Porthill Park’s unbeaten season in 2020 came in the unofficial Summer Series in the Covid-curtailed year.
The only other 100 per cent records in league divisions over the same period are:
- Trafford MV – Division 2 2011
- Didsbury – Division 3 2012
- Leigh – Division 3 2016
Brooklands were unbeaten champions of Division 2 in 2007, but their record included two draws, with 2007 being the only year that the league has not played win/lose cricket in all matches.
Stockport Georgians 2nd XI were unbeaten, with one tie, in winning Division 4 in 2021.
Only Lindow (Division 2) and Buxton (Division 3 East) stand a chance of completing an unbeaten league season this year.
Division 5
Three of the divisional winners in the softball divisions are already known. Aston have romped to the top in Division 5 South, Runcorn are assured of top spot in the Mid Cheshire region and Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge are champions of Division 5 East. Division 5 West looks to be a battle between Old Parkonians and Irby.
T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION
Western Division – July 20:
Nantwich Vipers w/o Oakmere Kats
Eastern Division – July 19:
Stockport Trinity Fire v Leigh: The first innings featured a fine spell from Sophie Coates, but Sophie Heaton and Emma Capper were able to score freely in the middle overs to take Leigh to a final score of 111. Rebecca Parkinson then took four early wickets in a Trinity innings of 75 that was dominated by Ellie Mason’s unbeaten 40.
KNOCKOUT CUPS
Senior Knockout Semi-Final – July 25:
Nantwich Vipers v Stockport Georgians: Defending champions Nantwich powered into the final once more. Their opponents in the Final at Hale Barns on September 3 will be Didsbury. Georgians were soon in trouble at 13-3 as Eleanor Sinker and Katie Haszeldine took early wickets for the Vipers, and the Stockport side never really recovered, reaching only 62. Georgians’ bowlers took regular wickets in reply but could not arrest the scoring rate and Nantwich secured the win in just 12.1 overs.
Development Knockout Quarter-Final – July 12:
Nantwich 2nd XI v Stockport Georgians 2nd XI: A trio of retired batters in their top four – Flo Seymour, Sophie Winward and Ellie Pearson – set Nantwich on the way to a score of 130, which proved well beyond Georgians’ reach.
Please note the retirement score for batters in this cup is 25, not 30 or 40.
Softball Knockout
Grappenhall are through to the first ever final in this competition, where they will play Kingsley or Neston.
Council and football club strike deal to deliver major revamp of local sports facility
Cheshire Constabulary to support national operation to cut out county-wide knife crime
It's up to everyone to help keep public toilets open
Local swim school takes lifesaving efforts onto dry land
Deal to deliver major revamp of local sports facility
Work gets underway on Congleton War Memorial Hospital’s ‘Wellbeing Garden’
Old School Disco night in aid of Macclesfield Hospital’s breast screening unit
Rugby player Doddie Weir’s MND campaign celebrated at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
Man charged following investigation into Crewe attempted robbery
Mid Cheshire Hospitals Dermatology team takes aim at myths and promotes skin health
Maternity services at Macclesfield District General Hospital rated as good
Officers continue to urge Cheshire residents to remain vigilant against courier fraud
Man jailed for drugs offences in Northwich
CHESHIRE EAST MAYOR CELEBRATES LOCAL CHARITY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Dan Price takes office as Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire
Come and have a brew with the Middlewich crew
Plant Hunters’ Fair at Capesthorne Hall
Comments
Add a comment