Edwards shines on Wokingham Club Debut

Here is a full round-up of all this weekend's top club league news.

Southern Premier League
England skipper Charlotte Edwards was the star of the Southern League this weekend with a century on her debut for her new club team - Wokingham Ridgeway - the new merged team of Wokingham and Reading. Wokingham beat Bath by 25 runs. They racked up 232/4 against Bath in their 50 overs with Edwards top scoring with 109. She shared an opening stand of 132 with her younger England colleague Heather Knight (57), and 75 with England Academy player Lissy Macleod (42). In response Bath lost an early wicket, but Janet Goldman (56) and Sophie Luff (85) responded well. But when they fell Bath could not maintain the required run rate and fell just short.

A strong Hayes squad beat Hursley by 9 wickets. Put into bat Hursley were indebted to Jemma Green's 54 and Harriet Batchelor's 96 ball 23, which allowed them to post 129 all out in the 48th over. But Hayes made short work of their reply led by Lydia Greenway (65*) and Kathryn Leng (47*) as they romped home in less than half their overs.

Loughton beat Bexley by 192 runs after they clocked up 244/3 in their 50 overs, with Karen Baker helping herself to 114. Ten player Bexley were bowled out for just 52 with Beth Langston taking 4/5. It looks like it may be a long season for Bexley.

In the other game Brighton conceded to Finchley, when they lost five players to a Brighton College 1st XI girls' game.

It looks like Hayes, Wokingham and Bath are the front-runners in the Southern League.

Midlands Premier League
Sheffield United beat Clifton Village by 33 runs in a high scoring game. Sheffield clocked up 230/5 in their 50 overs with Lauren Winfield, who is in fine form for both Sheffield and Loughborough University, who scored another fine 136. Ruth Barron took 4/34. Skipper Salliann Briggs also chipped in with 44 not out. Sonia Odedra led the Clifton response with an excellent 85, with support from the top order, but five wickets from Nat Sciver (5/24) sealed the game for Sheffield as Clifton finished on 197/9.

Meir Heath beat Burton Latimer by 140 runs after scoring 265/5 in their 50 overs. England's Georgia Elwiss top-scored with 87 and the rest of the top order all scored freely. Burton Latimer never looked like getting close to the required score and finished on 125/6, Steph Butler claiming 3/17.

At this stage its tough to look beyond Sheffield's strength in depth, aided by their links with Loughborough University, who incidentally take on the England Academy tomorrow, which should be a good match. I shouldn't of course forget Walmley, who did not play this week, but beat Sheffield in Week One and can boast Sarah Taylor amongst their number.

South West Premier League
Just two games again this weekend with Bristol Phoenix beating Taunton St Andrews by 88 runs. Alex MacDonald (62) and Abby Evans (63) starred with the bat for the Phoenix, who made 209/6in their 45 overs. Taunton were bowled out for 121 in reply with MacDonald rounding off a fine day with 5/19, while Chloe Davis took 3/19.
In a tight game Newport beat Plympton by one wicket winning off the last ball of the game. Plympton managed 156/6 with Amara Carr top scoring with 42. In reply Joanne Westwood (54) and Lauren Parfitt (38) set up the Newport victory, but it was Claire Thomas (22) that held the tail together. She was out with two runs still needed for victory, but 10 and 11 - Aimee Hughes and Rachel Nicholas - saw Newport home.

Newport seem the team to beat, but it looks like being a hard-fought league.

Cheshire First Division
The first two league games in the Cheshire top-flight were played this week.
Appleton squeaked past Romiley on a better run rate in a low-scoring rain-affected game. Appleton made 148/5 from 40 overs and Romiley were on 89/6 off 25 overs when proceedings were brought to a halt.
Chester Broughton Hall beat Stalybridge St Pauls, also by a better run-rate. Chester scored 268/0 in their 40 overs and Stalybridge were on 51/7 after 22 overs when the game was called off.

MD
29/IV/13