Ma THE Oakmere’s great start comes to abrupt end with forfeit to Didsbury … Hart takes five as DAZZLER 158 Trinity inflict second defeat on Appleton … First wins for Ashton and Hawarden … Chester and Trinity score big in recording opening T20 wins … Sophie Ecclestone misses out on World Cup … East beat West in entertaining T20 showcase … CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE Di vision One – May 21: Stockport Trinity 149-7 (40; Ellie Mason 31, Gaby McKeever 28, Jennie Kitzinger 22, Sarah McCann 22, Kathryn Jackson 2- 30, Jess Lewis 2-43) (25pts) Appleton 81 (32.5; Holly McCurrie 30, Katy Hart 5-8, Gillian Spragg 2-21) (6pts) • Trinity bounced back from their heavy defeat to Chester the previous week with an impressive victory. Ellie Mason, who was Cheshire’s top run scorer in 2016, played her first CWCL match here, having previously only appeared in the league’s T20 competitions; and played no small part in Trinity’s win. After top scoring in the Trinity innings, Mason then dismissed Emma Barlow for no score, before Katy Hart’s superb spell completed the job. Didsbury (25pts) w/o Oakmere (minus 10pts) • Oakmere were unable to raise a side for this fixture, which marks a very abrupt end to their winning streak, having opened the season with four consecutive convincing victories. The title race now looks wide open – all teams bar Oakmere have lost at least two matches, while Oakmere’s minus 10 for conceding is in effect the equivalent of losing two matches. Division Two – May 21: Leigh 77 (22; Emma Capper 21, Amanda Gettins 3-8) (4pts) Ashton -on-Mersey 78-3 (23.1; Azure Wilkinson 30*, Claire Anderton 23*, Nicky Deane 2-12) (25pts) • Ashton secured their first win of the season, but were grateful to Azure Wilkinson and Claire Anderton who saw them home after losing three early wickets. Division Three – May 21: Hawarden Park 142-0 (20; Thea Murray-Williams 54*, Rachel Warrenger 47*) (25pts) Lymm Oughtrington Park 92-5 (20; Laura Smith 25, Laura Wilson 2-15) (5pts) • Hawarden won their first match since stepping down to division three as their openers batted through the innings, scoring at seven runs per over. Lymm did themselves reply with a total good enough to earn maximum batting points, led by Laura Smith, who for her former club Didsbury was one of the top performers in this division last year. Karen Prince has stepped down from her roles as League Secretary and Results Secretary with immediate effect for personal reasons. Clubs are asked not to send any more results sheets to Karen, and for the short term at least, to input full scorecards from their matches on Play-Cricket. This matter may be discussed further at the next League Committee meeting on June 14. Many thanks from the Committee go to Karen for her services to the League. Meanwhile, I am delighted to report that Didsbury’s Caroline Sheridan has agreed to serve as League Secretary. T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION Western Division – May 23: Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 133-4 (20; Lorna Starkey 28ret, Dawn Prestidge 25ret, Nic Capes 22*, Hannah Snape 21, Alison Smith 2-17) Wistaston Swans 83-4 (20; Hannah Bratt 24) • Chester began their defence of the T20 crown with a fairly comfortable win. It was an important win for sure for the Deemons against the 2014 and 2015 winners of this competition, but given the strength of the Western Division this year it is far from unlikely that no team will be unbeaten, so Wistaston’s hopes may still be alive. Eastern Division – May 24: Stockport Trinity Fire 115-4 (20; Ellie Mason 26ret, Gaby McKeever 26ret, Sarah McCann 22, Charlotte Campion 2-31) Didsbury Swordettes 93-6 (Hannah Jones 25ret, Leesa Mellon 23, Hannah Wicks 3-14, Lily Dalkin 2-25) • Stockport Trinity were another side recording a potentially crucial win in their T20 regional group, and they also T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION Western Division – May 23: Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 133-4 (20; Lorna Starkey 28ret, Dawn Prestidge 25ret, Nic Capes 22*, Hannah Snape 21, Alison Smith 2-17) Wistaston Swans 83-4 (20; Hannah Bratt 24) • Chester began their defence of the T20 crown with a fairly comfortable win. It was an important win for sure for the Deemons against the 2014 and 2015 winners of this competition, but given the strength of the Western Division this year it is far from unlikely that no team will be unbeaten, so Wistaston’s hopes may still be alive. Eastern Division – May 24: Stockport Trinity Fire 115-4 (20; Ellie Mason 26ret, Gaby McKeever 26ret, Sarah McCann 22, Charlotte Campion 2-31) Didsbury Swordettes 93-6 (Hannah Jones 25ret, Leesa Mellon 23, Hannah Wicks 3-14, Lily Dalkin 2-25) • Stockport Trinity were another side recording a potentially crucial win in their T20 regional group, and they also did it by batting first and posting an imposing total. Gaby McKeever’s 26 runs were scored off just ten deliveries. CHESHIRE JUNIOR GIRLS’ TEAMS Women's Under 15 County Championship A Division Group 1 – May 16: Lancashire 219-5 (40; Megan Cureton 2-35) Cheshire 39 (20; Cureton 10) May 18: Cheshire 18 (15) Derbyshire 20-2 (9.3; Neha Biju 2-6) May 22: Nottinghamshire 113 (31.3; Molly Price 3-15, Madeline Arthur 2-11, Megan Cureton 2-16, Neha Biju 2-24) Cheshire 114-5 (30.2; Amy Jones 30*, Cureton 24) • An excellent win after what had certainly been a very difficult start to the season for Cheshire’s under 15s. Under 13 Friendly Lancashire B 93 (33.2; Bailey Coleman 3-12, Izzi Pearson 2-10, Emma Clarke 2-11, Phoebe Jones 2-14) Cheshire 96-3 (19.5; Tilly Arton 49*, Madeline Hudson 22) • A comfortable victory that bodes well for the competitive matches ahead. Cheshire were worthy winners over a Lancashire B team that was captained by Chester Boughton Hall’s cup final matchwinner from last year, Hannah Snape. OTHER NEWS Nominations are invited from the Cheshire Cricket Network for this year's Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards (OSCAs), to recognise volunteers for their exceptional services to Cheshire Cricket. Closing date is August 1. Sophie Ecclestone took 3-24 for Alvanley men’s 1st XI in a Cheshire County League T20 group match against Christleton. In terms of wickets taken, this is the best performance by a woman bowler in Cheshire men’s T20, although in terms of runs conceded no-one has yet matched the performance of Didsbury’s Hannah Jones, who two years ago conceded just 13 runs in a four over spell against Toft’s first team. ENGLAND WOMEN England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been named in a squad of 16 for the Women’s World Cup, having missed a year’s cricket to seek treatment for mental health problems. Heather Knight, currently out of action with a broken foot, is expected to be fit to captain England in the tournament that takes place in England in June and July. Alex Hartley, Beth Langston, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson and Lauren Winfield are selected in a World Cup squad for the first time. Amy Jones, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Natasha Farrant have all missed out on selection. England’s fixtures are as follows. All eight competing teams play each other once in the group stages, before the top four progress to the semi-finals. June 24 India Derby 1030 27 Pakistan Leicester 1030 July 2 Sri Lanka Taunton 1030 5 South Africa Bristol 1030 9 Australia Bristol 1030 12 New Zealand Derby 1030 15 West Indies Bristol 1030 18 Semi Final 1 Bristol 1030 20 Semi Final 2 Derby 1030 23 Final Lord’s 1030 Tickets for all matches can be purchased here. However, England v India has already sold out, and only small numbers of tickets remain for the games against Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES West Cheshire 100-1 (14.1; Dawn Prestidge 36ret, Kerry Hartnett 36ret) v East Cheshire East Cheshire 108-5 (20; Ellie Mason 38ret, Kennedy Nuttall 23, Alison Smith 2-9, Ali Cutler 2-23) West Cheshire 84-7 (20; Prestidge 25*, Smith 25, Emma Royle 4-14) 20 of the county’s leading players – representing all eight of the CWCL clubs who have entered the T20 divisions - came together for a day of T20 cricket at Oakmere on Bank Holiday Sunday. After a fairly high scoring day, all the players can be proud of their performances, whether they were current county squad players, former county players or simply club players who deserved the chance to test their skills in this environment. Unfortunately, the day was marred somewhat when Sophie Connor suffered a dislocated knee, and after a significant delay waiting for the ambulance to arrive and to complete their on-site treatment, it was decided to abandon that match and proceed with the second scheduled encounter. The West Cheshire side were progressing very well indeed, as Connor had just struck the boundary that brought up the 100 in just the 15th over, after Kerry Hartnett and Dawn Prestidge had both made undefeated scores of 36 off just 27 and 34 balls respectively. In game two, Ellie Mason batted very well to score 38 before retiring, and there were useful contributions from Her East Cheshire team-mates Kennedy Nuttall and Leesa Mellon. However, with Alison Smith and Ali Cutler amongst those producing fine bowling spells, the final total of 108 was not daunting on an excellent pitch and outfield, especially considering the way the West Cheshire batters had played earlier in the day.