Ma THE Magnificent League XI record first ever win over MCC … Oakmere thrash Chester and DAZZLER 180 Appleton slip up, as Oakmere move to brink of title … Marple’s first win all but hands Div 3 East to Appleton 2nd … Get your League Dinner tickets

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE CRICKET

MCC 178 (49.3; Claire Taylor 62, Danielle Warren 24*, Helena Stolle 23, Annie Rashid 3-21, Molly Price 3-33, Liv Bell 2-32) Cheshire Women’s League XI 179-9 (48.4; Carys White 86*, Ali Cutler 26, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 24, Jo Foster 3-34, Bev Nicholson 2-14, Warren 2-41)

At the ninth attempt the League’s representative XI finally emerged victorious from the annual fixture against the MCC, on an emotional day at Ashton-on-Mersey that was hugely enjoyable – this fixture always is – but was also by turns frustrating and nervous as the match ebbed and flowed one way and then the other.

The achievement is all the more praiseworthy as this was the youngest team the League has fielded in this fixture to date, but Cheshire’s three 15 year old bowlers – Molly Price, Liv Bell and Emma Capper – all bowled superbly. However, the real matchwinning performance came from Carys White, herself only 18 years of age, on what was certainly the highlight of her brief career to date. Whatever else she may achieve in her career, this really was a day on which she can be hugely proud of her efforts.

The League was privileged to welcome England legend Claire Taylor as part of the MCC eleven for the first time, and the

crowd were indeed truly fortunate to witness her innings, which can only be described as a masterclass. Her innings of 62

from 67 deliveries, that included 12 fours, really was a veritable feast of textbook shots.

However, for most of the rest of the innings, the League bowlers kept a tight rein on the scoring rate. Danni Warren and Sarah Sutcliffe did add 33 for the final wicket – a contribution which threatened to have a crucial impact on the game – but bowling out the MCC for only the second time in the decade-long history of this fixture is an achievement in itself.

Only two League XI bowlers had taken three wickets in an innings in this fixture previously, but here two more managed to add their names to this list. Annie Rashid returned a superb 3-21 from ten overs, with even Taylor unable to score significantly off her bowling. Rashid – and Holly McCurrie, who took the slip catch – will be able to dine out for a long time on the fact that they claimed Taylor’s wicket, but there was an even more spectacular contribution off the next ball when Katie Bennett took a superb catch behind the stumps. Rashid’s hat-trick ball then missed the stumps by no more than a coat of varnish!

After starting with five overs for five runs, Rashid’s new ball partner Price returned at the end of the innings to take three deserved wickets. Bell with two and Lauren O’Reilly with one completed the wicket taking.

The loss of captain Emma Barlow in the second over of the reply could have been a major blow to Cheshire’s hopes, but the top order responded, and after rapid scores of 20 odd by both Ali Cutler and Roshini Prince-Navaratnam, the League side were sitting pretty at 108-3 after 23 overs, needing only 71 more from the remaining 27 overs, and well ahead of both the required rate and what the MCC were on at the same stage.

However, the introduction of spinners Jo Foster and Bev Nicholson threatened to turn the match. The pair claimed figures of 3- 34 and 2-14 respectively as they bowled 20 overs in tandem and dramatically changed the scoreboard at 123-7. To many observers, it was looking as if another ‘near miss’ defeat in this fixture was on the cards.

Carys White remained steadfast though and looked increasingly dominant as she completed her unbeaten 86 from 103 deliveries, featuring 14 fours. Rashid, Bell and Price all provided vital support in the final stages of the run chase.

So here’s to the 11 (and the wider squad of 13) who finally broke the league team’s duck in this fixture:

Emma Barlow (Appleton, c), Katie Bennett (Wistaston Village, wk), Holly McCurrie, Annie Rashid (both Appleton), Liv Bell (Stockport Georgians), Molly Price (Oxton), Ali Cutler, Lauren O’Reilly (both Chester Boughton Hall), Carys White (Stockport Trinity), Emma Capper (Leigh), Roshini Prince-Navaratnam (Didsbury)

Fielding reserves: Natalie Bell, Georgie Gill (both Stockport Georgians)

The League thanks everyone who made this day possible, including Ashton-on-Mersey CC for their hospitality; the MCC team, many of whom once again travelled a significant distance; scorers Ray Bell of Stockport Georgians and Rosie Davis of Didsbury, and umpires Allan Axon and Andy Marsland. The League also extends best wishes to Geoff Young, who was due to umpire this match until he was unfortunately taken ill shortly beforehand.

Scorecard The League thanks everyone who made this day possible, including Ashton-on-Mersey CC for their hospitality; the MCC team, many of whom once again travelled a significant distance; scorers Ray Bell of Stockport Georgians and Rosie Davis of Didsbury, and umpires Allan Axon and Andy Marsland. The League also extends best wishes to Geoff Young, who was due to umpire this match until he was unfortunately taken ill shortly beforehand.

Scorecard

Rashid and Price’s bowling figures are respectively the first and third best recorded by League XI bowlers in the history of this fixture:

Anni Rashid 3-21, 2018 Jemma Bentley 3-27, 2011 Molly Price 3-33, 2018 Gabi Brown 3-46, 2013

White’s innings is the second best score recorded by a League XI batsman in this fixture, behind only Laura MacLeod’s mammoth innings:

Laura MacLeod 141, 2014 Carys White 86*, 2018 Dawn Prestidge 81*, 2017 Shami Ahmed 59, 2013

It is also easily the highest score made by a teenage League batsman against MCC:

Carys White 86*, 2018 Lauren Smith 33, 2016 Lydia Slack 29, 2009 Phoebe Cottam 25, 2016

CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE Division One – September 2: Oakmere 192-2 (40; Kerry Hartnett 64*, Dawn Prestidge 57, Hayley Coutts 41*) (25pts) Chester Boughton Hall 56 (30.4; Charlotte Thompson 11, Sammi Short 11, Leah Holland 4-3, Sarah Worsdale 2-12) (2pts)

• A rampant Oakmere moved to the brink of retaining their title, and once again there was another half-century from Kerry Hartnett and another ‘not out’ innings to add to her collection for this season. As their own disappointing season comes to an end, it is difficult to remember Chester Boughton Hall being restricted to just two bonus points in any match.

Didsbury 199-4 (35; Hannah Jones 85*, Leesa Mellon 65) (25pts) Appleton 182-7 (35; Charlotte Cross 40, Abbey Gore 38, Emma Barlow 36, Rosie Wilson 3-28) (7pts) (Restricted to 35 overs each due to an injury delay)

• Didsbury took the spoils in this high-scoring encounter, and in doing so effectively ended Appleton’s title hopes. This was Appleton’s first defeat to a team other than Oakmere this year and means that even if they beat Stockport Trinity next week, Oakmere will need only four points from their match with division one bottom club Wistaston Village.

Division Two – September 2:

Stockport Trinity 170 (39; Hattie Roberts 67, Emma Royle 29*, Alexa Harrison 3-24, Rebecca Othick 3-33) (24pts) Oxton 37 (18.3; Harrison 19, Charlotte Peacock 3-3, Roberts 3-7) (5pts)

• An excellent all-round performance from Hattie Roberts led the way to Trinity’s latest victory. If they can win at Appleton on Sunday they will complete an unbeaten league season and become the first division two side to win all their cross-divisional matches since this format was introduced.

Stockport Georgians 171-8 (40; Beth Garnett 81*, Rosemary Duckworth 28, Natalie Bell 26, Amelia Beddy 3-36, Amanda Gettins 2-25, Azure Wilkinson 2-46) (25pts) Ashton-on-Mersey 167-6 (40; Gettins 37, Wilkinson 36, Nicola Nolan 34*, Liv Bell 2-22, Zoe Jones 2-30) (9pts)

• Not for the first time this season, Georgians held their nerve to complete a narrow victory, after Beth Garnett had recorded her second successive half-century earlier in the day. Georgians and Leigh will now fight it out next week for the runners-up spot.

Division One / Two Cross Divisional – August 26

Division One / Two Cross Divisional – August 26

Didsbury* v Stockport Trinity+ – Cancelled due to rain, 8pts each

September 2:

Leigh+ 157 (38.3; Daisy Mullan 49, Georgia Taylor 23, Anna Bourne 4-42, Jen Regan 3-21) (25pts) Wistaston Village* 105 (29.3; Jen Regan 55, Mullan 3-5, Abbie Wright 2-10, Cailey Miller 2-22, Ella Smith 2-27) (8pts)

After a difficult start, Leigh are finishing the season strongly

*= first division club +=second division club

Division Three West – August 29:

Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI 132-4 (15; Hannah Thorley 41, Molli Coleman 37*) (25pts) Hawarden Park 74-1 (15; Laura Wilson 30, Holly Mayers 22*) (7pts)

• After scoring at almost nine per over, Chester seconds recorded their first ever victory

Division Three East – August 20:

Appleton 2nd XI 131-3 (20; Laurie Sheridan 52, Amy Jones 49, Georgie Morton 2-27) (25pts) Woodley 66-6 (20; A Derbyshire 21, Sheridan 2-8, Emily Page 2-16) (4pts) (One Appleton wicket was Retired Out so no bowling bonus point applies for this)

• A decisive win over their nearest rivals moved Appleton within one win of the Division Three East title

September 2:

Marple 112 Woodley 86-5 (20) (No further details available at present)

• Marple’s first ever victory, other than one by forfeit, also took Appleton seconds to the brink of the Division 3 East title.

Division Three matches awaiting re-arrangement: Hawarden Park v Lymm Oughtrington Park, Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI v Upton, Appleton 2nd XI v Hawarden Park, Hawarden Park v Upton

As we approach season’s end it is time to start looking forward to our end of season 'do' to celebrate another successful year for the Cheshire Women's Cricket League. This year we are in the west of the County and will be going to Frodsham Golf Club on Saturday September 29 2018. As usual we will have a three-course dinner, followed by the presentations and a disco. You need to be there by about 1900 and we will sit down to dinner at 1930. After the presentation the disco and bar will carry on until 12 midnight. We have again achieved a good deal and tickets are available at £20 per person. The League is again prepared to offer up to three additional tickets free of charge to all clubs that purchase at least six tickets. Demand for tickets could be high and there is a limit of 120 places, so to avoid disappointment please act quickly to get your orders and numbers in to Alan Thomas and your payment made to Bob Halstead. Tickets are offered on a first pay first come basis (please note that Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult). The menu order form has been circulated to club representatives and should be completed and emailed to [email protected] (copied to [email protected]), no later than Friday September 21. Payment must be made at the same time, or your ticket could be offered for re-sale. The special guest will be BBC Radio cricket commentator Isabelle Duncan – her voice has been heard on commentaries on men’s county and women’s international cricket. Her 2013 book Skirting the Boundary is perhaps the definitive history of women’s cricket. She is also a member of the MCC Main Committee, a former British Open Women’s Rackets Doubles Champion, a former captain of a men’s club side and a one-time girlfriend of lyricist and cricket nut Sir Tim Rice.

Kate Coppack of Chester Boughton Hall has played unofficial internationals for both Peru and Italy on her recent travels and was only female in the competition 'dream team' at the South American Championships.

LEAGUE TABLES

Division 1 p w wcn l lcn c BatP BowlP NRR Pts

Oakmere 12 9 1 1 0 1 1 2 2.02 261

Appleton 12 8 1 3 0 0 10 5 1.06 240

Didsbury 12 7 0 3 0 2 6 8 1.14 205

Chester Boughton Hall 12 7 0 5 0 0 15 14 0.48 204

Wistaston Village (R) 12 0 0 11 1 0 26 26 -2.22 42

Division 2 p w wcn l lcn c BatP BowlP Pen NRR Pts

Stockport Trinity (C & P) 12 8 1 0 0 3 0 0 6 1.64 243

Leigh 12 4 0 6 0 2 11 15 0 -0.14 142

Stockport Georgians 12 4 0 7 0 1 13 12 0 -0.79 133

Ashton-on-Mersey 12 4 0 6 2 0 13 7 1 -0.41 99

Oxton 12 1 0 10 0 1 24 34 0 -1.66 91

Division One is Chester Boughton Hall, Appleton, Didsbury, Oakmere and Wistaston Village. Division Two is Ashton-on- Mersey, Leigh, Oxton, Stockport Georgians and Stockport Trinity. Each team will play the others in their division at home and away, plus one fixture against each of the teams in the other division. Teams will play 13 matches in total. One up one down promotion and relegation will apply between the two divisions. p - Played, w - Won (25), wcn - Opposition Conceded (25), l - Lost (0), lcn - Team Conceded (-10), t - Tied (15), a - Abandoned (8), c - Cancelled (8), BatP - Batting Bonus Points, BowlP - Bowling Bonus Points, Pen - Penalty Points, NRR - Net run rate, Pts - Points

Division 3 West p w wcn l lcn a BatP BowlP NRR Pts

Nantwich 11 6 2 3 0 0 13 11 0.97 224

Upton 9 8 0 1 0 0 5 5 1.66 210

Hawarden Park 8 2 0 5 1 0 12 12 -1.23 64

Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI 9 1 0 5 2 1 19 6 -2.11 38

Division 3 East p w wcn l lcn a BatP BowlP NRR Pts

Appleton 2nd XI 11 9 0 2 0 0 9 8 2.16 242

Woodley 11 8 0 3 0 0 12 7 0.77 219

Didsbury 2nd XI 12 4 0 7 0 1 24 16 -0.17 148

Lymm Oughtrington Park 10 2 1 7 0 0 17 10 -2.77 102

Marple 11 1 1 8 1 0 28 15 -2.05 83

Division 3 West is Chester BH, Upton, Hawarden and Nantwich. Division 3 East is Appleton, Marple, Lymm, Woodley and Didsbury. Teams will play the others in their division home and away, and the teams in the other division once. p - Played, w - Won (25), wcn - Opposition Conceded (25), l - Lost (0), lcn - Team Conceded (-10), t - Tied (15), a - Abandoned (8), c - Cancelled (8), BatP - Batting Bonus Points, BowlP - Bowling Bonus Points, Pen - Penalty Points, NRR - Net run rate, Pts - Points

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Sunday September 9 Cheshire Women’s League (1330): Division One: Didsbury v Chester Boughton Hall, Wistaston Village v Oakmere Division Two: Ashton-on-Mersey v Oxton, Leigh v Stockport Georgians Division One/Two Cross-Divisional: Appleton v Stockport Trinity Division Three East: Woodley v Lymm Oughtrington Park Division Three Cross-Divisional: Marple v Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI

CHESHIRE JUNIOR GIRLS’ TEAMS Under 17 Friendlies – August 14:

Cheshire 165-7 (45; Laurie Sheridan 38) Cornwall 168-3 (24.4; Molly Price 2-31)

Women’s Under 17 County T20 Group 1 – August 20:

Yorkshire 148-4 (20) Cheshire 72-7 (20; Megan Cureton 17)

Cheshire 86-7 (20; Katie Bennett 24) Lancashire 91-0 (13.4)

Women’s Under 15 County T20 Group 1 – August 17:

Lancashire 88-7 (20; Lily Scudder 2-7) Cheshire 72-9 (20; Madi Hudson 16)

Yorkshire 122-6 (20; Abby Nicholson 2-21, Madi Hudson 2-26) Cheshire 36-4 (8) (Yorkshire win by 20 runs on D/L)

Under 11 Friendlies – August 16:

Cheshire 59-5 (15) Wales 61-5 (14.2; Abbigail Lamidy 2-5)

August 17:

Kent 206-7 (35; Meera Mahadevan 4-?) Cheshire 124 (35; Emilia Sedgwick 28)

August 21:

Yorkshire 169-6 (30) Cheshire 50 (22.5; Emily Murray 10)

August 31:

Lancashire 75 (17.2; Abbigail Lamidy 2-9, Rosie Gorman 2-10, Phoebe Sherrif 2-20) Cheshire 76-7 (18.2; Bea Lomas 13)