Review: Cheshire Women's Cricket League

Here are the latest developments in the Cheshire Women's Cricket League.

Division One – July 18:

Oakmere 121-7 (40; Phoebe Cottam 56, Kate Skelhorn 25*, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 3-12, Zara Matthews 2-20) (5pts)

Didsbury 125-4 (28.1; Prince-Navaratnam 53*, Rosie Davis 36) (25pts)

Didsbury remain unbeaten in all competitions since their defeat on the first day, and here it was Roshini Prince-Navaratnam who starred with bat and ball to see them to a decisive win over Oakmere, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Stockport Trinity 120-7 (40; Ellie Mason 64, Nandu Valliyil 3-21)

Chester Boughton Hall 121-2 (23.2; Kate Coppack 51*, Ali Cutler 37)

The title race may now be a straight fight between Didsbury and Chester. Boughton Hall continued their own excellent form with this decisive win. Kate Coppack - who along with Tilly Buss bowled a fine spell earlier - finished this run chase with a flourish, hitting 51 from 43 deliveries.

Leigh 140-8 (40; Millie Baldwin 33, Emma Capper 29, Annie Rashid 3-20, Sami Fowler 2-19) (6pts)

Appleton 141-3 (25.5; Emma Barlow 81*, Rashid 25*)

This was another division one match won decisively by the team batting second, thanks in the main to Emma Barlow, who got her side home with 14 overs to spare for their first league win since the opening day.

July 25:

Leigh 52 (23.4; Hannah Gallimore 15, Gemma Rose 3-14) (1pt)

Chester Boughton Hall 53-0 (14; Ali Cutler 35*, Nicole Fisher 14*) (25pts)

Chester moved into the outright lead for the first time this season after this swift and decisive win over Leigh. A massive clash between Didsbury and Chester lies ahead on August 15.

Stockport Trinity 178-8 (40; Ellie Mason 73, Kate Harvey 56, Annie Rashid 3-22, Olivia Horsfield 2-36) (9pts)

Appleton 179-7 (39.5; Jess Lewis 76, Georgia Heath 39, Gillian Spragg 3-35, Emma Royle 2-30) (25pts)

Ellie Mason continued her remarkable run of half-centuries – her lowest league score this year is 55 not out and 64 is the lowest for which she has been dismissed - but ultimately it was Jess Lewis with a career best score that led Appleton to this thrilling victory with one ball to spare.

Porthill Park 162-7 (40; Libby Clifton 64*, Lucy Shenton 21*, Kerry Hartnett 2-13, Sophie Connor 2-18) (7pts)

Oakmere 166-3 (38.5; Phoebe Cottam 102*) (25pts)

Another potentially tricky run chase ended in success here. Porthill must have thought they had a good chance at halfway, but Phoebe Cottam’s superb contribution upstaged the knock of Libby Clifton earlier in the day and means the Potteries club are still searching for a first league win.

Division Two – July 18:

 Stockport Georgians 145 (32.3; Tess Bailey 31, Louisa Boyle 21, Amelia Sammons 4-16, Georgie Morton 2-13, Izzy Blamires 2-37) (25pts)

Ashton-on-Mersey 63 (19.3; Beth Caunce 22, Liv Bell 4-14, Cleo Johnson 2-4, Lucy Neill 2-16) (6pts)

Georgians got their campaign back on track here, with Liv Bell's early wickets doing much to dent Ashton-on-Mersey's quest to chase down the target.

Upton 156-7 (35; Madi Arthur 32*, Sophie Morris 28, Lily Scudder 22. Luana Sims 2-17, Alice Beardsmore 2-21) (8pts)

Porthill Park 2nd XI 157-5 (34.2; Lauren Kenvyn 81*, Morris 3-6) (25pts)

Upton's title ambitions in this tightly fought division suffered a setback as Porthill's seconds recorded a first win since the opening day. Despite Sophie Morris starring in both departments, Lauren Kenvyn's matchwinning innings saw her side home in the final over.

Division Three West – July 9:

Wistaston Village 71-8 (20; Jen Regan 17, Flo Seymour 3-6, K Conroy 2-11, Ada Christophenson 2-12) (5pts)

Nantwich 2^nd XI 72-2 (11; Beth Hughes 28*) (25pts)

A series of early wickets from Flo Seymour and others set Nantwich on the way to a comfortable victory

July 16:

Nantwich 2nd XI beat Wistaston Village - no further details available at present and result not included in league table

July 25:

Nantwich 2^nd XI 116-6 (20; K Conroy 32, Sophie Winward 24*, Abbi Mayers 2-12) (25pts)

Hawarden Park 81-5 (20; Nicola Deane 23, Flo Seymour 2-1) (8pts)

Playing the second of a double-header after their semi-final win earlier in the day, here Nantwich seconds posted a target of almost one run per ball and ended Hawarden’s unbeaten league record.

Division Three East – July 18:

Hayfield 114-4 (30; Olivia Downs-Haskell 36*, Madeleine Hayles 32, Lily Beckley 2-8, Jo Seddon 2-19) (8pts)

Lindow 115-8 (26; Claire Ashworth 20, Nikki Hill 20, Downs-Haskell 2-13, Alicia Peacock 2-21, Freya Mason 2-23) (25pts)

Lindow's good recent run of results continued, although they had to dig deep to complete this run chase after initially struggling at 60-6. 

July 20:

Woodley 137-6 (20; Abby Barlow 77*) (25pts)

Didsbury 2^nd XI 134-4 (20; Abby Nicholson 55, Helen Johnson 38, Lucy Smith 32) (8pts)

In this increasingly competitive division, Woodley hung on to edge this high scoring encounter and maintain their favourable position at the top of the table. Abby Barlow’s 77 came from 59 deliveries with three sixes.

July 25:

Hayfield 116-7 (30; Ruth Lomas 23, Madiha Hashmat 2-11, Lucy Smith 2-15) (25pts)

Didsbury 2^nd XI 92 (28; Amy Walkman 15, Freya Mason 2-3, Rosie Bradshaw 2-20, Zara Kelly 2-24) (7pts)

After a good all-round batting effort, Hayfield got back to winning ways and remain in title contention.

Division Four – July 13:

Lindow 2^nd XI 80-6 (20; Lily Beckley 30, Eliza Chadwick 2-5) (5pts)

Heaton Mersey & Cheadle 81-0 (15; Charlotte Appleyard 26*, Charlotte Heasley 23*)

A comprehensive second win of the season for Heaton Mersey & Cheadle

July 15:

Lymm Oughtrington Park 58-6 (20; Sue Jones 14) (5pts)

Stockport Georgians 2nd XI 59-5 (17.4; Amelie Batey 19, Olivia Gladwin 3-11) (25pts)

(Full performance details not available at present)

Georgians were made to work hard to maintain their 100 per cent record after Lymm’s Olivia Gladwin claimed three early wickets. However, with all other teams in the division having more losses than wins on their record, Georgians seconds are already on the brink of clinching the title, indeed they could wrap things up before the end of July if they defeat Lindow seconds on Thursday this week.

July 18:

Hawk Green 108-1 (20; Rebecca Edmundson 72*) (25pts)

Heaton Mersey & Cheadle 103-3 (20; Lauren Oliver 37*) (6pts)

Rebecca Edmundson needed just 49 deliveries for her match-winning innings of 72, where she found the boundary 13 times. This is easily the highest individual score in this division this year.

July 22:

Lindow 2nd XI 76-4 (20; Rachel Hoyle 24, Lucy Gardiner 2-10) (5pts)

Lymm Oughtrington Park 77-2 (17.2; Gardiner 20) (25pts)

Lucy Gardiner was both the best batsman and bowler as Lymm won with a degree of comfort to record their second win of the year.

T20 Eastern Division – July 19:

Didsbury Swordettes 152-3 (20; Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 31ret, Chloe Hawes 31ret, Lucy Smith 23*, Alex Wilson 2-49)

Woodley 82-8 (20; Abby Barlow 35ret, Zoe Conway 2-1, Isabelle Hevican 2-4)

Didsbury completed an unbeaten campaign in the Eastern Division and are now through to their first final in this competition on August 22, where they will play the Western Division winners. The match was notable for Roshini Prince-Navaratnam and Chloe Hawes getting Didsbury off to a flying start, and for Zoe Conway conceding just one run from her four overs, but also for Abby Barlow reaching the retirement score with her second six, and this becoming the first player in the competition to retire on 35.

July 22:

Ashton-on-Mersey 81-6 (20; Beth Caunce 30ret, Claire Anderton 22, Emily Thomas 2-17)

Stockport Georgians 82-1 (13.4; Tess Bailey 31ret, Natalie Bell 29*)

After a good start, Ashton-on-Mersey’s batting fell away and Georgians comfortably recorded their first win of this year’s competition

Development Knockout Quarter-Final – July 14:

Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI 86-7 (20; Megan Cureton 28ret, Beth Hughes 3-3, Izzy Pearson 2-6)

Nantwich 2^nd XI 87-8 (19.1; Pearson 23, Bethan Morris 3-14)

A last over victory for Nantwich sent them through to a semi-final at Hawarden Park.

Semi-Final - July 25:

Hawarden Park 98-5 (20; Nicola Deane 25ret, Rachael Warrenger 25 ret, Beth Hughes 2-9)

Nantwich 2^nd XI 99-5 (19.1; Charlotte Neal 25ret, Beth Hughes 22*, Holly Mayers 2-17)

Here Nantwich also got home with five balls to spare to defeat the holders and set up their first cup final.

Representative Cricket

The League XI to play MCC at Nantwich on Thursday August 12 at 1130 is:

Ali Cutler (Chester BH, capt)

Ellie Mason (Stockport Trinity)

Roshini Prince-Navaratnam (Didsbury)

Katie Bennett (Chester BH)

Molly Price (Oxton)

Nicole Fisher (Chester BH)

Gaby Crabb (Leigh)

Mishel Jeena (Didsbury)

Tilly Buss (Chester BH)

Rosie Davis (Didsbury)

Eleanor Brennan (Stockport Trinity)

All of these players except Cutler, Prince-Navaratnam, Bennett and Price will be playing in this fixture for the first time, with 13-year-old Eleanor Brennan set to become the youngest player to represent the League XI since Sophie Ecclestone in 2012.