Ma THE Appleton take 19-point lead in division one and move into two cup finals after being DAZZLER 178 Chester for fifth time … Trinity clinch division two and will be Appleton’s opposition in both finals … Upton’s Division 3 West celebrations delayed by Woodley loss, as Woodley contend for Division 3 East … League XI to play MCC announced CHESHIRE WOMEN’S LEAGUE Di vision One – July 29: Appleton (25pts) w/o Wistaston Village (minus 10pts) Didsbury v Oakmere – Match cancelled, 8pts each • Oakmere were unable to play today due to rain, but still stand a good chance of retaining the Championship if they can win their last three league matches, although should they beat rivals Appleton, the bonus points to which they can restrict their opponents could be crucial. Aug ust 5: Chester Boughton Hall 126 (37.3; Ali Cutler 39, Charlotte Thompson 24, Kathryn Jackson 3-25, Nathalie Long 3-29, Sami Fowler 2-8) (6pts) Appl eton 128-4 (30.5; Emma Barlow 86*, Cutler 2-16) (25pts) • A massive result for Appleton as they seek to close in on the Championship crown. Emma Barlow played another matchwinning innings as they beat Chester for a staggering fifth time this season – home and away in both Division One and the T20 Western Division, and a semi-final of the Knockout Cup. An Oakmere victory over Appleton next week could still change things, especially if Oakmere can also restrict Appleton’s bonus point tally. Wistaston Village 105 (31.1; Katie Bennett 54, Hannah Jones 4-9) (4pts) Didsbury 109-1 (22.1; Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 68*, Jones 23*) (25pts) • Katie Bennett’s classy innings took Wistaston to three figures, but their total was still not enough to trouble Didsbury. After scoring 26 from the first 11 overs, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam led the way as 83 more were scored in the next 11 overs and one ball. Division Two – July 29: Leigh v Stockport Trinity & Oxton v Stockport Georgians – Matches cancelled, 8pts each August 5: Stockport Trinity (25pts) w/o Ashton-on-Mersey (minus 10pts) • Without needing to take the field, Trinity secured the points to wrap up the division two title for 2018. They remain unbeaten in all competitions this year. Division Three West – July 26: Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI 35-4 (12; Annette Axon 12, Charlie Scudder 2-6) (3pts) Upton 36-2 (5.3; Sophie Morris 25*) (25pts) (Reduced to 12 overs per side due to traffic accident in area) • Another comfortable victory for Upton as they took one step closer to the title. July 29: Nantwich 92-4 (Hannah Wilson 31, Ffion Evans 2-14) (25pts) Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI 48 (19.4; Evans 12, Flo Seymour 2-3, Connie Jamson 2-6, Kelsey Barker 2-13) (3pts) • Nantwich seem destined to finish second behind Upton, but they have plenty to be proud of from their first ever season, and this was certainly another impressive performance in what was the only match to survive the weather on this day. Division Three East – July 23: Woodley 135-4 (20; Nic Derbyshire 29*, Georgie Morton 29*, Shumaila Zaman 3-23) (25pts) Didsbury 2nd XI 90-8 (20; Kate Scott-Griffiths 36, Alex Wilson 2-20) (7pts) • Woodley here they recorded their fifth win from six and provided they can fulfil all of their fixtures in the remaining weeks, could yet challenge for the Division 3 East crown. July 26: July 26: Appleton 2nd XI 124-2 (20; Amy Jones 35ret, Katy McLean 35ret, Emily Page 28*) (25pts) Lymm Oughtrington Park 63-7 (20; Carol Ingham 29, Amy Jones 3-0, Eloise Jackson 2-5) (3pts) (All Appleton wickets were Retired Out, so Lymm do not receive bowling bonus points) • Amy Jones had a superb all-round match as Appleton seconds remained unbeaten by other Division Three East sides – they have lost two cross-divisional fixtures. July 30: Appleton 2nd XI 125-3 (20; Becky Jones 25ret, Sylvia Christelow 25ret) (25pts) Didsbury 2nd XI 83 (19.4; Kate Scott-Griffiths 28*, Amy Jones 3-12, Ella Oldland 2-7, Christelow 2-14) (7pts) • Another victory for Appleton and another total of greater than a run a ball. August 1: Lymm Oughtrington Park beat Marple – no further details available at present Division Three Cross-Divisional – July 31: Nantwich 93-5 (20; Grace Michell 46, Izzi Pearson 24, Abi Barlow 2-6) (9pts) Woodley 95-7 (20; Barlow 50*, Sophie Winward 2-6, Bethan Robinson 2-16) (25pts) • Abi Barlow’s half-century guided Woodley to victory off the final ball. This result keeps alive Woodley’s hopes of winning the Eastern Division, and after their rivals Nantwich faltered here, took Upton within one win of the Western Division. August 5: Upton 121-8 (30; Charlie Scudder 32, Kate Robinson 4-28, Georgie Morton 2-34) (10pts) Woodley 123-9 (27.1; Becky Baldock 33*, Claire Anderton 29, Ellen McGowan 4-16, Hannah McGowan 3-26, Charlie Scudder 2-26) (25pts) • Having been unbeaten all year in their first season, Upton tasted their first defeat just when they were one win away from wrapping up their divisional title. Meanwhile, Woodley’s good run of form continues. Division Three matches awaiting re-arrangement: Hawarden Park v Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI, Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI v Woodley, Hawarden Park v Lymm Oughtrington Park, Chester Boughton Hall 2nd XI v Upton Player loans: Barbara Offord – Oakmere to Lymm Oughtrington Park Claire Anderton, Becky Baldock – Ashton-on-Mersey to Woodley In response to recent requests for this information, teenage centurions in league history include: Jenny Halstead (Poynton) 191 on 20/7/2005 aged 18 years 2 months Hannah Gradwell (Stockport Trinity) 155 on 8/7/2012 aged 18 years 5 months Sophie Ecclestone (Chester BH) 133* on 8/5/2016 aged 17 years 0 months Bhumika Doshi (Bolton Indians) 125 on 5/5/2013 aged 17 years 2 months Lydia Slack (Romiley & Dinting) 121 on 14/6/2009 aged 17 years 8 months Ellie Mason (Stockport Trinity) 105 on 11/6/2017 aged 17 years 9 months Megan Cureton (Oxton) 103* on 15/7/18 aged 16 years 10 months Hannah Snape (Chester BH) 102* on 22/7/2018 aged 15 years 10 months Nalisha Patel (Astley Bridge) 102* on 7/6/2015 aged 17 years 3 months Vicky Latham (Chester BH) 102* on 5/8/2007 aged 16 years 5 months Hannah Gradwell (Stockport Trinity) 100* on 10/7/11 aged 17 years 5 months Phoebe Cottam (Oakmere) 100* on 3/7/2016 aged 18 years 10 months Natalie Heap (Hawarden Park) 100 on 22/6/2008 aged 18 years 2 months This all means that the recent century by Megan Cureton did not break the record for the league’s youngest player into three figures, as she was five months older than Vicky Latham was at the time of her big innings. However, the century by Hannah Snape the following week did indeed eclipse the previous record. Hannah Gradwell is the only player to score two league centuries in her teenage years, and the scores by Gradwell and Jenny Halstead remain the highest scores in league history by any batsman, junior or senior. The next meeting of the League Committee will take place on Wednesday August 15 at 1930 at Oakmere CC. T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION Western Division – July 30: Oakmere Kats v Chester Boughton Hall Deemons – match cancelled due to rain, will not be re-arranged. August 3: Appleton Tigers 101-6 (20; Emma Barlow 27ret, Georgia Heath 22, Katie Haszeldine 2-13, Morganne Prince 2-13) Wistaston Swans 97-2 (20; Katie Haszeldine 26ret, Katie Bennett 25ret) • This narrow win confirmed Appleton’s place as winners of the Western Division, and that they will now play Stockport Trinity in both senior cup finals on Finals Day Eastern Division – August 1: Stockport Trinity Fire 108-4 (20; Jennie Kitzinger 28ret, Kate Harvey 25ret, Gaby McKeever 25ret) Didsbury Swordettes 77-6 (20; Leesa Mellon 21*, Katy Hart 2-11) • Trinity finished the Eastern Division with a 100 per cent record and now will play in two different finals on Finals Day on August 19. Jennie Kitzinger made an unbeaten 28 and took one wicket on what was her last appearance in Cheshire club cricket. KNOCKOUT CUPS Knockout Cup Semi-Final – July 26: Stockport Trinity Fire 114-5 (20; Jennie Kitzinger 28ret, Emma Royle 25ret, Gaby McKeever 20, Amna Malik 2-31) Didsbury Swordettes 110-3 (20; Hannah Jones 26ret, Roshini Prince-Navaratnam 25ret, Leesa Mellon 23, Sophie McArdle 2-29) • Stockport Trinity maintained their 100% record in all competitions this year, but only by the skin of their teeth in a thrilling clash, ending Didsbury’s hopes of a third successive final in this competition. This will be their first Knockout Cup Final. July 31: Appleton Tigers 125-4 (20; Eloise Jackson 27ret, Georgia Heath 26ret, Emma Barlow 25ret, Charlotte Cross 22*, Ali Cutler 2-17, Charlotte Thompson 2-20) Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 54 (13.3; Cutler 21, Nathalie Long 5-9, Olivia Horsfield 3-13) • This was Appleton’s fourth win over Chester in the various competitions this year, and on this occasion it was a commanding win, scoring at more than six per over before dismissing their opponents cheaply. Georgia Heath and Eloise Jackson reached the retirement score in just 15 and 14 balls respectively, before some brilliant bowling from Nathalie Long and Olivia Horsfield completed the job. The Knockout Cup has so often been Chester’s competition, but not this year, and Finals Day without the Deemons is indeed an unusual event.