Cheshire Women's Cricket Update

Here's the latest update on the Cheshire Women's Cricket League...

NATIONAL KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

Cup National Semi-Final – August 6:

Lindow v Dorridge: After their amazing run which saw them become the first Cheshire League team to reach the last four of the main National Cup competition, Lindow finally met their match here. Dorridge posted 124, with experienced Warwickshire county players Isabelle Watson and Liz Russell in the runs. With excellent bowling figures recorded by the likes of Emilia Rossi and Libby Ackerley in the first innings, was the target within reach for the Wilmslow club? It certainly seemed possible when Sarah Parker and Emily Murray got them off to a good start at 44-1. This couldn’t be sustained though, and with Ellie Philips and Watson both recording superb analyses, it was the Solihull side that booked a place in the national final.

Plate National Semi-Final – August 6:

Blackpool v Porthill Park Northern Stars: The Stars are once again into the final to defend the Plate they won last year. The foundations for this nine-wicket win were laid as Melisha Tennakoon recorded the best of some excellent bowling figures to dismiss Blackpool for 68. A final against Oxfordshire club Moreton now awaits Porthill.

CHESHIRE WOMEN'S LEAGUE:

Division One – August 6:

Leigh v Appleton: This was Leigh’s game in hand over their rivals and they took full advantage to beat Appleton and go to the top of the table for the first time this year. This win was reminiscent in many ways of last season, with Leigh racking up a formidable total batting first and Rachael Walsh and Danielle Collins combining in a big first wicket stand. Walsh made 76 from 65 balls here, while Collins’ 91 included four sixes, and the score was 168 before they were finally parted. Emma Barlow’s good season continued with 64, but none of her Appleton team mates provided significant support until Abbey Gore’s 31 late in the innings, and the Warrington club never looked likely to chase down 225 in a reduced 38 overs.

Oakmere v Upton – cancelled due to rain

August 13:

Chester Boughton Hall v Leigh: Leigh took another step towards retaining the title after a comprehensive 141-run win here. They have been boosted in recent weeks by the return to the side of Thunder regional contracted player Danielle Collins, and by adding her to what was already a talented side, it makes facing Leigh a formidable prospect. Today, Collins made 116 from 99 deliveries with 18 fours and three sixes, putting on 113 for the first wicket with Rachael Walsh and a further 71 with Kate Gaging. Daisy Cooke took four wickets in the closing overs of the first innings to drag things back somewhat for Chester, but the final total was still an imposing 230. In this of all seasons, you might add the ‘weather permitting’ caveat to statements such as this, but it remains the case that two wins from two will guarantee Leigh the title.

Didsbury v Appleton: Didsbury remain one point behind Leigh after their latest victory. Their bowlers restricted Appleton to just 74 in the full 40 overs, where the most economical return came from Hannah Jones (0-5 in eight overs) and the main wicket taking damage was done by Hannah Marshall (4-16). Despite the loss of two early wickets in reply, Kashmira Shinde’s 35 ensured a relatively comfortable chase.

Nantwich v Upton: Upton recorded their first win as a top-flight side, ending Nantwich’s realistic title hopes in the process. Charlie Scudder played a key role, taking four wickets after Nantwich had made a good start at 55-0, then contributing 45 to an unbeaten century stand for the third wicket with Chelsea McLerie (70 not out) as the Wirral club comfortably reached their target of 138. Upton are still, however, likely to need to win both remaining matches to stand a chance of avoiding finishing bottom.

Stockport Georgians v Oakmere: Upton’s quest to avoid relegation might have been a lot easier had Oakmere not recorded what was only their second league win of the season. Georgians got off to a fast start with Heidi Cheadle’s 42 from 30 balls and Gaby McKeever’s 34 from 29, but from 106-4, the innings folded to 113 all out, with 12 overs left unused. Becky Jones finished with 5-20 and Kate Skelhorn 3-2. Oakmere’s openers Phoebe Cottam and Leah Holland then put on 88 for the first wicket and their side eventually won by eight wickets.

Division Two – August 6:

Greenfield v Leyland: A big win for Leyland, completed in quick time. Greenfield were already struggling before a collapse to the bowling of Abi Bates and May Hardy left them all out for 49. After a scare as they were reduced to 12-3, Nina Marshall guided Leyland home to a seven-wicket win.

August 13:

Greenfield v Lindow: A comprehensive win for Lindow, who now look to wrap up the title in a Bank Holiday double header on their own ground. Grace Hemsted’s 3-6 in five overs was the best return from the eight bowlers used by the Wilmslow club as their opponents reached just 68. Hemsted and Sarah Parker then had the job done inside 14 overs in the run chase. Lindow will be champions as early as Bank Holiday Sunday if they beat second-placed Hawarden Park and restrict their opponents to six bonus points or fewer. A win by a lesser margin will leave them to get a handful of points from the Leyland clash on the Monday. A Hawarden win on Sunday would, however, keep the title race alive.

Hayfield w/o Oxton

Division Three West – August 8:

Nantwich 2^nd XI w/o Appleton 2^nd XI

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

• Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI v Nantwich 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Nantwich 2^nd XI v Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date

Division Three East – August 13:

Lindow 2^nd XI v Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley: This tight contest between two teams without a league win saw Lindow seconds sneak home by two wickets, chasing 93 in 30 overs. Shanza Shafqat for the visitors and Ashlee Barnes for the hosts were amongst the bowlers doing well here, but in a low scoring affair, Naz Hancioglu’s 43 runs for Lindow really stood out from the pack.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

• Stockport Georgians 2^nd XI v Didsbury 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley v Lindow 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date

Division Three Cross-Divisional Matches – August 1:

Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI v Stockport Georgians 2^nd XI: Jess Isaacs nearly bowled her four over spell for no runs in this match. Beth Tittensor also took three cheap wickets as Chester managed only 55 in 20 overs and Georgians won comfortably.

August 6:

Nantwich 2^nd XI v Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley – cancelled due to rain on original date and will not be re-arranged.

Fixtures that must be re-arranged:

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

• Appleton 2^nd XI v Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Buxton v Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Porthill Park Northern Stars v Didsbury 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date

Division Four West – July 30:

Toft w/o Lindow 3^rd XI

August 13:

Alvanley v Lymm Oughtrington Park: Alvanley completed their unbeaten league season to confirm their place as winners of the division – the first hardball division champions to be crowned this year. Isla Entwistle had a fine match here, with an unbeaten 35 runs followed by a return of four wickets for nine runs.

Wistaston Village w/o Toft

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

Division Four East

Langley v Buxton 2^nd XI – cancelled due to rain on original date and will not be re-arranged

Fixtures that must be re-arranged:

• Hawk Green v Buxton 2^nd XI – ground availability at Hawk Green on original date

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

• Hawk Green v Heaton Mersey & Cheadle – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on original date
• Macclesfield v Heaton Mersey & Cheadle – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Hawk Green v Macclesfield – Macclesfield unable to fulfil fixture on original date
• Hawk Green v New Mills & High Peak North – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Macclesfield v Hawk Green – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on original date
• Hawk Green v Langley – Langley unable to fulfil fixture on original date
• North East Cheshire v Langley – cancelled due to rain on original date
• New Mills v Macclesfield – cancelled due to rain on original date
• Langley v Hawk Green – Hawk Green unable to fulfil fixture on original date

A selection of photos from the League XI match versus MCC can be viewed here.

The ECB’s annual National Playing Survey is now available for completion. This is a chance for players and club volunteers to have their say about their experiences of the CWCL. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. If sufficient numbers from CWCL clubs complete the survey, the League will receive a detailed report of your responses. All those who complete the survey are entered into prize draws to win merchandise signed by the England men’s and women’s squads.

T20 DIVISIONAL COMPETITION

Eastern Division – August 8:

Lindow v Stockport Georgians: Gaby McKeever top scored for Georgians and there were useful contributions from Heidi Cheadle, Skye Thomas and Lucy Neill as the Stockport club compiled 135. Despite a late boost from Grace Hemsted and Libby Ackerley, Lindow fell 22 runs short.

Fixtures awaiting possible re-arrangement:

Lindow v Leigh – cancelled due to rain on original date

KNOCKOUT CUPS

Development Knockout Semi Final – August 3:

Nantwich 2^nd XI v Toft: Nantwich recorded a comfortable win as they look to win once again the competition they bagged in 2021. Flo Seymour and Hannah Bratt scored rapidly in the final overs to take them to 115.

August 8:

Ashton-on-Mersey & Woodley v Chester Boughton Hall 2^nd XI: Chester’s seconds ensured a Finals Day place alongside their first team with this 10-wicket win. Carys Lambe, Elin Roberts and Ava Rogers all took two wickets as the home side managed just 44.