Bucket loads of runs in club cricket this weekend

Sunday was another day for club cricket to take centre stage and there were some excellent games and individual performances all round the country. I have rounded up all the league action below.

Southern Premier League

Bath beat Brighton by 110 runs - Bath's batsmen scored an impressive and daunting 263/4 in their 50 overs on a good wicket and lightening outfield. Sophie Le Marchand hit 60 and Sophie Luff completed a fine and deserved century off the last ball of the Bath innings. In reply Brighton made a steady start, but slipped to 70/4. Sophie Parnell (39) and Freya (honorary Sophie) Davies (37*) briefly raised Brighton's hopes, but the lower order faded away against some decent spin bowling and four stumpings from keeper Le Marchand as Brighton were bowled out for 153.

Hursley beat Bexley by 15 runs - It was a run-fest at Hursley as the home side clocked up a mammoth 334/7 with major contributions from almost all their batsmen, but the main partnership coming from Eleanor Ingram (94) and Emily Windsor (56). Sam Wright claimed 3/37 amongst the carnage. Bexley were undaunted by the size of the task and when Alice Davidson-Richards (163*) and West Indies Shakira Selman (81) added 206 for the fourth wicket, an unlikely victory looked a possibility, but it was not to be as Hursley just held on restricting (if that is the right word) Bexley to 319/5 off their 50 overs. A magnificent effort to chase down such a huge total.

Loughton beat Hayes by 98 runs - Loughton inflicted a first defeat of the season on Hayes. Having set them a decent score of 238/8 based around a good knock from the returning Lauren Onajaife (75) and good late runs from Hannah Courtnell (36), Loughton took regular wickets from the outset of the Hayes innings, including the vital wicket of in-form Lydia Greenway for a duck. Eventually they bowled them out for 140 with only Susie Rowe (53) really getting to grips with the Loughton bowlers, for whom Courtnell claimed 3/24.

Finchley beat Wokingham by 34 runs - Finchley decided to have first dig and made a decent fist of it scoring 229/5 thanks to 98 from Aussie-import Emma Inglis, with support from Helen Stolle (50). Heather Knight grabbed 3/46. The Wokingham innings needed a mainstay, but Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight came and went and no-one took responsibility as batsmen got in and got out. Wokingham finished on 195/9 with six different bowlers picking up wickets for Finchley.

All of which means that Hayes, Finchley, Bath, Wokingham and Loughton are all still in the mix for the title. At the other end Brighton are currently struggling to record their first victory, but it is early days with each team still having seven games to go and with results proving to be difficult to predict as teams vary in composition and performance from week to week.

Midlands Premier LeagueClifton Village beat Walmley by 58 runs - Clifton would have been reasonably satisfied with their score of 226/6 in their 50 overs, with Jenny Gunn (77) leading the way with support from Ruth Barron (44). Walmley made a slow start and then lost wickets to leave themselves at 48/3 and the rebuilding work of Laura Crofts (41) came to nothing as Walmley stumbled to 174 all out in the 47th over to consign them to their first defeat of the season.

Sheffield Utd beat Meir Heath by 8 wickets - Walmley's defeat was good news for Sheffield and they made full use of it with a convincing win over Meir Heath. Meir Heath bumbled their way to 100 before they were all out in the 38th over of their innings. Only Danni Wyatt (26) and Shanel Daley (25) made double figures. Camilla Westwood took 3/24 as all the Sheffield bowlers enjoyed a good day. Lauren Winfield clattered 75 not out as Sheffield raced to victory with just two wickets down in 13 overs.

Pershore beat Burton Latimer by 7 wickets - and it could have been so much worse for Burton if opener Laura Tonks had not made 101 of the first 156 runs. Burton ended on 170/8, but that was never going to be enough. Opener Thea Brookes hit an unbeaten 110 to lead Pershore to their second win of the year and inflict a third defeat on Burton.

It is still Sheffield, Clifton And Walmley who are setting the pace at the top separated by less than 1 average point.

South West Premier League

Newport beat St Austell by 102 runs - Newport scored an above par score of 225/8 in their 45 overs with Claire Thomas (56) top-scoring. Jade Williams and Nicole Richards claimed three wickets apiece as all 10 St Austell outfielders had a bowl. St Austell never looked like getting close as all their batsmen struggled to score at any pace. They finished on a laboured 123/6.

Plympton St Andrews beat Taunton Griffins by 16 runs - invited to bat Plympton could only manage to score 172 before they were bowled out in the 43rd over. Jess Jones' 33 was the biggest single contribution. Lorraine Szczepanski took 3/21. However in reply Taunton found the going tough too and only Flo Broderick (31) made any significant score as Taunton were bowled out for 156 with four overs still to be bowled. Rebecca Donahue claimed 4/16


Newport retain control of the league as they recorded their fourth win in four games. Plympton are doing what they can to keep the pressure on them, despite having lost to them early in the season.


Cheshire League Division One

Oakmere beat Stockport Trinity by 10 wickets - Having bowled Stockport out for 86 (Hayley Coutts 3/12) Oakmere knocked off the runs in 22 overs with Helen Smith hitting 54* and Shami Ahmed 25*.

Appleton beat Bolton Indians who conceded - A disappointing match for the Bolton Indians to concede, handing back the initiative in the league to Appleton, who go back to the top.

Romiley v Chester Broughton Hall - result awaited

Stalybridge St Pauls v Stafford Metrovics - result awaited.

MD
10/VI/13