Match Report

Cold and blustery conditions met the girls at Yapham CC for the long awaited first game of the season. After being put into bat, Shauna Yates and Mollie Ovenden had the honour to open for North and swiftly moved the score along before Shauna (6) fell to a lovely full pitched and pacy ball. A powerful cameo from Jess Thompson (5) was followed by a masterclass in shot selection from Daisy Stokoe, who, along with Mollie formed the partnership of the day. Mollie was expertly timing the ball to all corners of the ground but eventually departed (19) to an excellent catch. Captain Annie Brown continued where Mollie had left off taking the quick singles and consistently punishing the bad balls. Partner Daisy was looking secure until an excellent ball glanced her stump as she attempted to put the ball away on the leg-side (finally out for 30 and top scorer for North). Jess Tully (2) continued the aggressive batting and after a fluent performance Annie (17) was finally caught out. Niamh Hall hit a quick fire 14 (including two 4s) with able support from Anna Bowman (1) both finishing not out and taking the final score to a competitive 115 for 6 after 30 overs.

You could sense the girls were confident in defending the total but East were much improved from last year and were a dangerous opponent. North had to bowl and field well, and Captain Annie Brown ensured everyone was up for it!

Jess Thomson opened the bowling for North and her fearsome pace was clearly troubling East, but it was Annie Brown that made the early breakthrough removing their opener (and her middle stump) for a duck. Jess Thompson (3-0-8-0) only seemed to be getting faster, but again Annie’s probing straight ball bamboozled East and they were another wicket down. Excellent figures for Annie of 3-0-8-2 but no one was prepared for what was to come next….

A change of bowling brought on Jess Tully who signalled her intent with her characteristic pre-delivery routine (bowling arm straight out and visualising the ball smashing into middle stump). By the end of her over 5 wickets had fallen (all bowled), a hat trick taken and East were 7 wickets down. Unbelievable spell of swing bowling with final figures of 2-0-4-5.

Great bowling continued with debutants Emma Marlow (5-4-1-1) and Lucy Petitt (3-0-9-0) and the ever dependable Anna Bowman (2-0-8-1) weighing in with another crucial wicket. The final wicket to fall (a superb caught and bowled) from Daisy Stokoe (1.5-0-5-1) wrapped up the East innings of 54 all out.

Perhaps stiffer tests await this season but a great victory, excellent team spirit (demonstrated by another debutant Ruby Hick stepping in as wicket keeper at short notice) and a special thank you to our awesome Coach George Brown! The future is bright….Go North!