Review: Cheshire Women's Cricket League

Here's what's been happening in the Cheshire Women's Cricket League recently.

Division One – June 13:

Leigh 60 (23.2; Kasey Bentham 17, Rachel Tidd 3-8, Kerry Hartnett 2-5, Sophie Connor 2-6) (2pts)

Oakmere 61-1 (18.3; Shami Ahmed 27*) (25pts)

Oakmere recorded another comfortable win ahead of next week’s potentially important game against Stockport Trinity. Once again the all-round depth of the Northwich club’s bowling attack was apparent as they swiftly completed this win.

Porthill Park 152 (39.1; Lucy Shenton 57, Gemma Rose 4-17, Ali Cutler 2-22) (7pts)

Chester Boughton Hall 154-4 (27.2; Cutler 65, Nandu Vailliyil 29*) (25pts)

Chester made it three wins from four here. Porthill recovered from 97-8 after Lucy Shenton completed her fifty and found some support from the lower order. However, Ali Cutler continued her superb season with the bat, needing just 52 deliveries to reach 65.  Nandu Vailliyil completed the run chase without alarm once Cutler had departed.

Appleton 131-6 (40; Tilly Kesteven 32, Emilia Lamb 21, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 3-26, Emma Jackman 2-26) (7pts)

Didsbury 132-6 (36.3; Prince-Navaratnam 60, Georgia Heath 4-11) (25pts)

Oakmere, Trinity and Chester remain title contenders, but it's defending champions Didsbury that lead the way at this point. With regular wickets falling to Roshini Prince-Navaratnam and Emma Jackman, and Rosy Wilson, Zara Matthews and Chloe Hawes all contributing economical spells, Appleton never got the run rate much above three per over. Prince-Navaratnam completed her excellent all-round match, taking the score to 93-1 and completing the lion's share of the run chase, before Georgia Heath's late wickets earned Appleton some additional bonus points.

Division Two – June 13:

Upton 123 (28.3; Charlie Scudder 29, Emma Rowlands 22, Amelia Sammons 4-30, Rachel Mann 2-17, Beth Caunce 2-27) (25pts)

Ashton-on-Mersey 68 (30; Sammons 26, C Scudder 3-6, Ellen McGowan 3-16, Becky Jones 2-14) (6pts)

Charlie Scudder made the top score in the first innings then contributed a fine bowling spell as Upton continued their good start to the season.

Oxton 180-2 (35; Tessie Nickson 96*, Allyson Byrne 33, Hannah Kowalski 30) (25pts)

Porthill Park 2^nd XI 55 (20.2; Zara White 3-2, Freya Davies 3-10) (2pts)

Tessie Nickson’s major contribution set Oxton on the way to a formidable total and to their second successive win.

Division Three East – June 13:

Woodley 94 (30; Clare Edwards 32, Rosie Bradshaw 3-18, Lily Dalkin-Strube 2-15)

Hayfield 87-8 (30; Olivia Downs-Haskell 24, Gemma Stewart 3-21) (7pts)

Woodley hung on to win this exciting battle between two previously unbeaten teams, and were especially grateful to Clare Edwards in making the top score from the number nine position, to help them to a total that was just out of Hayfield's reach.

Lindow 190-6 (30; Michelle Hesslegrave 51, Lily Beckley 44*, Anne Chadwick 2-27) (25pts)

Langley 30 (12.3; Jess Lightowler 4-5) (3pts)

Lindow recorded their first league win of the year in some style.

Knockout Cup Quarter Finals – June 7:

Oakmere Kats 105-7 (20; Shami Ahmed 31ret, Kerry Hartnett 30ret, Charlotte Kirk 4-10)

Nantwich Vipers 86-7 (20; Morganne Prince 30ret, Leah Holland 3-15, Hartnett 3-22)

Oakmere booked a home semi-final after seeing off a spirited challenge from Nantwich. Shami Ahmed and Kerry Hartnett got the Northwich club off to a great start and Hartnett later played her part with the ball, alongside Leah Holland

June 9:

Stockport Trinity w/o Porthill Park

June 10:

Stockport Georgians 82-5 (20; Gaby McKeever 31ret, Emma Jackman 2-13)

Didsbury Swordettes 83-5 (16.1; Hannah Marshall 25, Jackman 20, Isabella Woodside 3-20)

It will be Didsbury who travel to Oakmere in the last four after this victory. Only Gaby McKeever really broke the shackles of some disciplined Didsbury bowling. In reply, Georgians took regular wickets, with Isabella Woodside to the fore, but Didsbury were always ahead of the required rate.

Development Knockout Quarter-Finals – June 9:

Lindow 110-5 (20; Michelle Hesslegrave 39, Alison Hodge 31)

Hawk Green 62-4 (20; Rebecca Edmundson 26, Claire Ashworth 2-5)

A powerful batting display set Lindow on their way to a home semi-final.

June 13:

Hawarden Park 98-4 (20; Laura Nicholls 27ret, Yukshee Tariq 3-7)

Didsbury 2^nd XI 45 (20; Ela Closs-Sharpe 4-2, Poppy Smith 2-4, Thea Murray-Williams 2-5)

Holders Hawarden are also through to a home last four clash after compiling a solid total and then blitzing Didsbury’s top order.

National Knockout

Round Three – June 10:

JG Meakin 132-4 (20; Davina Perrin 60*, Stephanie Butler 34, Rosemary Cockle 23, Evelyn Jones 2-18)

Porthill Park 98 (18.1; Becky Cripwell 42, Butler 4-14, Hannah Beasley 2-13)Porthill's involvement in the competition ended after defeat in this tough assignment against JG Meakin, who can still call on a large number of Staffordshire's senior squad. This is the first time a League side has been beaten by a club from another league in this year's competition.

Plate Round Two – June 9:

 Leigh beat Tarleton – no further details available

The CWCL will also be represented in the Northern regional final of the Plate after Leigh’s victory here.