Nantwich and Leigh exit the competition after great runs to regional finals of National KO … Didsbury well placed in both Division 1 and T20 East … Division 2 still wide open … Woodley and Hawarden maintain unbeaten records in regional Division 3s … Nominations sought for League XI to play MCC

NATIONAL KNOCKOUT

Northern Regional Final – June 27:

Nantwich Vipers 87-4 (20; Katie Haszledine 24) Sessay Emeralds 88-2 (14.3; Amy Burton 38*, Phoebe Turner 25)

• Nantwich’s National Knockout adventure ended here in the regional final – the last eight nationally. After some superb wins in previous rounds, the Vipers found the task of beating leading Yorkshire club Sessay just too tough.

Northern Regional Plate Final – June 27:

Leigh 92-6 (20; Ellie Davey 42, Danielle Collins 26, Ellie Cowley 2-7, Imogen Cooper 2-12) Wrenthorpe 93-3 (18.3; Beth Absolon 22, Gabriella Copley 21)

• Leigh – beaten by Nantwich back in the first round – made the most of their early exit from the main competition by proceeding to this stage of the Plate, but like Nantwich today, they probably didn’t post enough runs first to be truly competitive. Nevertheless, the achievements this year of the clubs who entered the National have greatly enhanced the League’s standing and showed how well our clubs match up against teams from other leagues.

CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE

Division One – June 20:

Oakmere 153 (39; Shami Ahmed 60, Eleanor Brennan 5-22, Emma Royle 2-31) (25pts) Stockport Trinity 132-7 (40; Ellie Mason 82, Sarah McCann 32, Natalie Lyons 5-6, Dawn Prestidge 2- 10) (9pts)

• Unbeaten Oakmere negotiated one of the major hurdles in their quest to regain the Championship. Natalie Lyons was their outstanding performer, conceding just six runs in eight overs and claiming a five- haul along the way. For Trinity, Ellie Mason continued her outstanding run of scores, but the team’s attempt to get over the line was frustrated by a string of low individual scores from others. Eleanor Brennan cemented her reputation as one of the league’s rising stars with her second five-wicket haul in a matter of days.

Porthill Park 155-9 (40; Ilenia Sims 59, Amy Griffiths 29, Zara Matthews 2-29) (9pts) Didsbury 157-8 (39.4; Rosie Davis 44*, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 31, Mishel Jeena 24, Matthews 21, Sims 3-33, Lucy Shenton 3-34) (25pts)

• Didsbury remain on top for now though but got home with just two and two balls remaining as Porthill came the closest they have so far this year to breaking their duck in Division 1. Didsbury illustrated the depth in their team by using nine different bowlers and still restricting Porthill to less than four per over. The reply began with an opening stand of 60 between Roshini Prince-Navaratnam and Mishel Jeena, but then regular wickets started to fall, with Sims continuing her excellent match with three wickets. Ellie-Mae Davies also bowled her eight overs for just four runs to add to the pressure. However, Rosie Davis played a great anchor role to see her side home.

Appleton 139-9 (40; Holly McCurrie 35, Sami Fowler 34*, Daisy Cooke 4-26, Gemma Rose 2-9) (5pts) Chester Boughton Hall 140-2 (34.4; Katie Bennett 52*, Ali Cutler 33, Megan Cureton 22*, Nicole Fisher 20) (25pts)

• Chester completed a fourth win in five with eight wickets and more than five overs in hand. Gemma Rose took some early wickets and Daisy Cooke claimed some scalps at the end of the innings to limit Appleton to 139, a target which never troubled Chester.

Division Two – June 15:

Stockport Georgians 79 (25.5; Becky Scholes 15, Amelia Sammons 3-14, Amanda Gettins 2-14, Beth Caunce 2-25) (3pts) Ashton-on-Mersey 83-1 (19.2; Claire Anderton 39*, Caunce 26*) (25pts)

• The form book was turned on its head as Ashton recorded their first league win of the year and consigned Georgians to their first league defeat. For the first time this year, Georgians lost early wickets and never properly recovered, and some composed batting from Claire Anderton and Beth Caunce completed the small run chase.

Upton 123-7 (35; 29, Sophie Morris 208, Alexa Harrison 2-18, 2-18) (6pts) Oxton 127-3 (31.4; Harrison 47*, Molly Price 43*) (25pts)

• Upton also lost their 100 per cent record as Oxton recorded their third win, with an unbeaten stand of 96 between Alexa Harrison and Molly Price seeing them home. Division 2’s title race looks wide open at present, with Oxton top of the pile but able to be overtaken by all but one of the other teams if games in hand were won.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement: Oxton v Nantwich - Covid self-isolation requirements Porthill Park 2nd XI v Upton - Covid self-isolation requirements

Division Three West – June 27:

Hawarden Park 112-1 (30; Nicola Deane 56, Abby Mayers 41) (25pts) Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI 107-8 (30; Nandu Valliyil 44, Gemma Rose 25) (5pts)

• After a tense finish, Hawarden clung on to preserve their unbeaten record.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement: Hawarden Park v Wistaston Village – no play due to rain on original date Nantwich 2nd XI v Wistaston Village – Nantwich 1st XI involvement in National KO Nantwich 2nd XI v Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI - Covid self-isolation requirements

Division Three East – June 15:

Lindow 104-5 (20; Claire Ashworth 40*, Michelle Hesslegrave 24) (7pts) Didsbury 2nd XI 107-3 (20; Rosie Davis 53*)

• A second last ball finish of the night – see also the T20 Divisional reports below – where Rosie Davis and Chloe Hawes put on 41 undefeated for the fourth wicket to see Didsbury home.

June 20:

Woodley 88-9 (30; Alex Wilson 24, Lily Humphreys 3-13, Lily Beckley 2-12, Ellie Arkelaos 2-20) (25pts) Lindow 68 (25; Jo Seddon 20, Louise Hughes 3-17, Wilson 2-5) (6pts)

• Woodley edged a low scoring contest to maintain their unbeaten league run.

June 21:

Woodley 112-5 (20; Madison Kay-Breen 38, Marika Smith 30, Marianne Lea 2-5) (25pts) Didsbury 2nd XI 110-6 (20; Rosie Davis 41, Chloe Hawes 24, Karen Pannett 3-16) (8pts)

• Woodley’s 100 per cent league record came under serious threat as Didsbury threatened to chase down their imposing target, only to fall agonizingly short.

Unfortunately, Langley have decided to withdraw from this year's Division 3 East. They will continue to field a softball team in Division 5 and hope to be in a position to field a hardball team in next year's Division 4.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement: Didsbury 2nd XI v Hayfield – no play due to rain on original date

Division Four – June 24:

Hawk Green 61 (18.3; Grace Bell 3-7, Chloe Waites 2-12, Hannah Budgell 2-21) (4pts) Stockport Georgians 2nd XI 65-1 (11.3; Blessing Neththasinghe 21*)

• A massively encouraging result for Georgians, whose inexperienced line up had little difficulty here.

June 27:

Hawk Green 78-5 (20; Olivia Gladwin 3-8) (7pts) Lymm Oughtrington Park 82-5 (14; Gladwin 20*)

• Olivia Gladwin was in form with bat and ball to fire Lymm to their first win of the year.

Heaton Mersey & Cheadle 88-6 (20; Becky Scholes 4-3, Amelia Brereton 2-14) (6pts) Stockport Georgians 2nd XI 89-3 (15.5; Brereton 35ret, Louisa Boyle 35ret) (25pts) (Two Georgians wickets were Retired Out so bonus points are not allocated for these)

• A second commanding win in a matter of days for the young Stockport Georgians team sent them to the top of the table.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement: HM/Cheadle v Lymm – Lymm unable to fulfil fixture on original date

Division Five West:

Leigh 2nd XI 356, Runcorn 347

Division Five East:

Stockport Georgians 3rd XI 391, Macclesfield 367 Langley 2nd XI 626, Macclesfield 579

The recent Committee meeting agreed that matches may be re-arranged for dates up to and including September 26.

A reminder of the bonus points system in operation in League matches. Club representatives are urged to ensure the bonus points boxes are completed correctly when entering results on Play . Bonus points are only awarded to losing teams and to teams in abandoned matches.

Bowling points in all divisions: one each on taking 1,3,5,7 and 9 wickets Batting points: • Division 1: one on reaching each of 50,75,100,125 and 150 runs • Division 2: one on reaching each of 50,70,90,110 and 130 runs • Division 3/4 30 over: one on reaching each of 60,75,90,105 and 120 runs • Division 3/4 20 over: one on reaching each of 40,50,60,70 and 80 runs (In weather affected matches, the bonus point milestones are reduced on a pro rata basis, so in a division 1 match reduced to 20 overs, maximum batting points are achieved at 75 runs)

This has been sent to League captains and managers this week …

I would like to invite you to nominate players from your club for the Cheshire Women's League XI to play the MCC on Thursday August 12 at 11.30am at Nantwich CC. It's unlimited nominations per club now, so feel free to nominate anyone you think deserves to play. Any supporting information about why you feel any one player particularly deserves a place in the team will be very welcome as well. Senior county players can be nominated, as can players from clubs outside Cheshire, as can players who represent counties other than Cheshire. The main criterion for eligibility is that players play their regular Sunday club cricket in the CWCL.

We have had division Three players in the main XI in the past, however maybe the best chance for development level players to get involved is via one of the two 'fielding reserve' slots, and I would also welcome nominations here. Finally, we also need two scorers, so again nominations welcome here.

Please check the nominated players are happy to play and don't expect to be on holiday etc. on the day.

Nominations by July 12 please - this gives you three weekends to ask players and compile your nominations list.

Ali Cutler of Chester Boughton Hall will the League team on the day.

T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION Western Division – June 14: Oxton 68-4 (20; Tessie Nickson 30ret) Oakmere Kats 72-0 (10.1; Phoebe Cottam 32*, Kerry Hartnett 30ret)

• Oakmere completed this comprehensive win – their second of the competition - in just half the available overs. Sophie Connor’s four over spell, conceding just five runs, led the way as only Tessie Nickson broke the shackles during the first innings.

June 15:

Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 131-4 (20; Ali Cutler 30ret, Megan Cureton 27, Nicole Fisher 20*, Georgia Heath 2-23) Appleton Tigers 134-7 (20; Heath 33ret, Sami Fowler 22, Emma Barlow 20, Cutler 4-5)

• This amazing match saw Appleton break the competition record for the highest successful run chase. Georgia Heath (33 from 22 deliveries) and Sami Fowler started the recovery from 56-5 and Olivia Horsfield finished the job with an unbeaten 11 from eight deliveries. The Tigers scored a remarkable 76 runs in the final eight overs, including a four from the final ball when two were required. It meant that Ali Cutler ended on the losing side despite reaching the retirement score from just 13 deliveries and then contributing a fantastic bowling spell. This is also Appleton’s second win of the competition and a possible decider against Oakmere awaits on July 19, but Nantwich are still in contention for top spot as well.

Eastern Division – June 16:

Stockport Trinity Fire 149-1 (20; Ellie Mason 33ret, Carys White 30ret, Kate Harvey 30ret) Woodley 67 (15.1; Abby Barlow 23, Eleanor Brennan 5-9, Mason 2-7)

• After a powerful batting display, Eleanor Brennan set the seal on this victory as Trinity made a winning start to their defence of this competition.

June 17:

Didsbury Swordettes 188-6 (20; Hannah Jones 30ret, Rosie Davis 30ret, Emma Jackman 27, Zara Matthews 25) Ashton-on-Mersey 66 (16.5; Claire Anderton 34*, Rosy Wilson 3-12, Matthews 2-12)

• For all their successes in other competitions, Didsbury have never won this trophy. However, they started their 2021 campaign in the strongest possible way by smashing the competition record for the highest team score. Hannah Jones and Rosie Davis - both with 30 from 20 deliveries - and Zara Matthews with 25 from 14 were the fastest scorers in this run fest. The overall record for the highest team score in a CWCL T20 competition remains the 194 made by Appleton against Hyde in the Knockout Cup in 2012.

June 24:

Stockport Trinity Fire 94-9 (20; Ellie Mason 30ret, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 3-10) Didsbury Swordettes 98-0 (12.1; Mishel Jeena 33ret, Prince-Navaratnam 31ret)

• Stockport Trinity have dominated the Eastern Division in recent years, indeed their last defeat in the division was back in 2016, when Appleton also played in this region. However, their chances of topping the table this year look remote after this comprehensive win by Didsbury. Ellie Mason started the match by reaching the retirement score in just 17 deliveries, but this was as good as things got for Trinity. Roshini Prince-Navaratnam took three wickets in the middle order and the last four wickets fell to run outs. Prince-Navaratnam then played her familiar role in getting the Didsbury reply off to a flying start, and her side now look excellently placed to top the Eastern Division for the first time.

June 27:

Stockport Georgians 115-7 (20; Liv Bell 33ret, Gaby McKeever 22, Kate Harvey 2-13, Ellie Mason 2- 23) Stockport Trinity Fire 116-2 (18.1; Emma Royle 30*, Harvey 30ret, Mason 21, Bell 2-21)

• Amid the music blaring between overs and the barbecue smoke drifting onto the field, Trinity completed a superb run chase with all of 11 balls in hand. Georgians must have thought they had posted a challenging target after Gaby McKeever got them off to a flying start and Liv Bell kept the board moving in the later overs. However, the scores being achieved in the T20 format have risen noticeably this year, and teams batting first are being forced to revise their assessments of what might constitute a good total. Trinity scored 64 from 43 deliveries from the end of the 11th over, with Emma Royle and Freya Jones adding 52 in 34 balls from the time they came together when Kate Harvey reached the retirement score. A Georgians win over Didsbury on Thursday would set up the possibility of a three-way tie at the top, where the divisional winners would be decided by net run rate, but here Didsbury have a significant advantage at present.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement: Woodley v Stockport Georgians – cancelled due to rain on original date Ashton-on-Mersey v Woodley – cancelled due to rain on original date LEAGUE TABLES

Division 1 P w l c BatP BowlP NRR Pts

1 Didsbury 5 4 1 0 3 3 0.36 106

2 Chester Boughton Hall 5 4 1 0 1 1 0.58 102

3 Oakmere 5 3 0 2 0 0 1.25 91

4 Stockport Trinity 5 2 2 1 9 6 1.83 73

5 Appleton 5 1 4 0 12 9 -0.58 46

6 Porthill Park 6 0 5 1 16 13 -1.13 37

7 Leigh 3 1 2 0 2 2 -2.48 29

Division 2 P w l BatP BowlP NRR Pts

1 Oxton 5 3 2 3 7 0.62 85

2 Upton 4 3 1 4 2 0.56 81

3 Stockport Georgians 3 2 1 2 1 1.05 53

4 Ashton-on-Mersey 4 1 3 3 8 -1.14 36

5 Porthill Park 2nd XI 3 1 2 5 1 -1.24 31

6 Nantwich 1 0 1 1 5 -0.29 6

Division 3 East P w wcn l lcn BatP BowlP NRR Pts

1 Woodley 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 1.4 125

2 Hayfield 4 2 1 1 0 2 5 0.57 82

3 Didsbury 2nd XI 4 2 0 2 0 6 7 0.54 63

4 Lindow 5 1 0 4 0 2 7 -0.03 34

5 Langley 4 0 0 3 1 2 5 -4.17 -3

(Langley will not be fulfilling any more fixtures)

Division 4 P w l BatP BowlP NRR Pts

1 Stockport Georgians 2nd XI 3 3 0 0 0 1.82 75

2 Lindow 2nd XI 3 2 1 3 1 0.1 54

3 Hawk Green 4 1 3 11 6 -1.24 42

4 Heaton Mersey & Cheadle 3 1 2 7 5 0.02 37

5 Lymm Oughtrington Park 3 1 2 4 5 -0.09 34

T20 Western Division P w l NRR Pts

1 Oakmere Kats 2 2 0 2.04 6

2 Appleton Tigers 2 2 0 0.73 6

3 Nantwich Vipers 2 1 1 0.36 3

4 Oxton 1 0 1 -3.68 0

5 Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 3 0 3 -0.92 0

T20 Eastern Division P w l NRR Pts

1 Didsbury Swordettes 2 2 0 4.89 6

2 Stockport Trinity Fire 3 2 1 0.8 6

3 Stockport Georgians 1 0 1 -0.64 0

4 Woodley 1 0 1 -4.1 0

5 Ashton-on-Mersey 1 0 1 -6.1 0

KNOCKOUT CUPS Development Knockout Entrants in this competition are reminded that the regulations dictate that the batters retire at 25. There was one recent fixture where this didn’t occur.

JUNIOR GIRLS CLUB CRICKET & SENIOR WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

This recent article on All Stars Cricket at Stockport Trinity appeared in the Daily Mail.

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE CRICKET

Charlotte Edwards Cup – Selected Results – June 26:

Thunder 118-6 (20; 58, Natalie Brown 25, 2-32) 106-9 (20; Steere Kallis 32, Hollie Armitage 20, Lamb 4-13)

• Emma Lamb enjoyed a superb all-round match and Sophia Turner conceded just four runs in four overs as Thunder started this competition with an impressive victory.

Central Sparks 83 (17.5; 36, Emily Arlott 22, 5-19, 3-16) 85-2 (13.1; Danielle Wyatt 45, Maia Bouchier 25*)

• A comfortable victory for last year’s 50 over champions at the start of the new shorter form competition.