This weekend sees the next round of club games up and down the country, but with the Super 4s keeping most of the best players in the country occupied at Loughborough for the next three weekends, the clubs may have to have to dig deep to get teams out this week that can be competitive. However it does appear that the Super 4s games are only being played on Saturdays, so players are technically free to play for their clubs on Sunday. Will they do so?
The Super 4s this year will be contested between three women's teams - Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies and Leicester & Rutland U16 Men's team. This Saturday they play a T20 tournament - semis and then a final and a 3/4 play-off. The following two weekends are taken up with 50 over matches. I'll review these games as they are played.
Club matches this weekend
Southern Premier League
Bath v Hursley
Bexley v Brighton
Finchley v Loughton
Hayes v Wokingham - first v second, but who will be on the park for each team?
Midlands Premier League
Meir Heath v Walmley - second v third - should be a cracker
Quatt v Clifton Village
Sheffield v Pershore
South West Premier League Plympton v Bristol Phoenix - second v third - important game to win
Taunton St Andrews v St Austell
Cheshire League Div 1Chester Boughton Hall v Trafford Metrovics
Oakmere v Romiley
Stalybridge St Pauls v Appleton
Stockport Trinity v Bolton Indians
Yorkshire League Div 1Beverley v New Farnley
Bradford v Treeton
MD
31/V/13
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Friday, 31 May 2013
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Notts get most out of BH Double Header
On a weekend when either Kent or Sussex felt they could have taken charge of the Division One race to the Championship play-off, it was actually Nottinghamshire who made the most of their chances, securing two wins out of two over Warwickshire and Middlesex (and going to the top of the league), while Sussex tripped up against Yorkshire before beating Kent, in their only game of the weekend. It means that all three teams have now lost one game with Notts due to play Sussex in the next round of fixtures in four week's time.[The next three weeks see the top players in England playing in the Super 4s competition]
[up-to-date Div One Table is here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html]
Yorkshire beat Sussex by 7 runs. Sussex seemed to have this game under control after they restricted Yorkshire to a very gettable 179/9 in their 50 overs. In reply Sussex were cruising along through Arran Brindle (51) and Georgia Elwiss (36), but without too much regard for the run-rate which grew steadily as the middle overs slipped by. In the 43rd over Sussex lost Brindle and a selfless Alexia Walker (0). Thirty nine were still needed off seven overs. The 44th over produced seven runs and another wicket, but only seven runs came off the next three overs, plus the loss of Hannah Phelps (34). Twenty five were still needed off three overs, but young Beatrice Firth (2/21 off 10 overs) and Laura Spragg (2/40) bowled tight lines to allow Sussex to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Surrey beat Middlesex by 15 runs in the battle at the bottom of the league for a first win of the season. Surrey clocked up 211/7 in their 50 overs with solid contributions from most batsmen - Kirsty White (42) and Natalie Sciver (32) top-scored, but there were also 42 wides. Danni Warren was the main wicket-taker with 3/32. At 132/2 Middlesex were on track with Beth Morgan (58) and Emma Inglis (44) going well, but they fell within a few runs of each other and Middlesex slipped to 156/8. Anna Nicholls (18) and Ria Raval (18*) did what they could to keep the chase going but fell 15 runs short.
Essex beat Berkshire by 29 runs. Berkshire will have been reasonably happy to have restricted Essex to just 175/9 in their 50 overs. Only Lauren Onojaife (58) really got going as Sherisa Gumbs (3/30) and Heather Knight (3/36) weighed in with some wickets. In reply Berkshire had made it to 64 without loss before Knight went for 27. They then took the score to 85 before losing four quick wickets for just six runs. Emily Gerke (26*) did her best to hold the Berkshire innings together but little support and the innings petered out on 146 in the 48th over.
Nottinghamshire beat Warwickshire by 7 wickets. Warwickshire set Notts a target of 193 after they were bowled out for 192, thanks in the main part to 72 from Kayleigh Alsop. Danni Wyatt picked up 4/16 and Lucy Maxwell 3/23. Notts made light of the target romping home with 7 wickets in hand with Jenny Gunn 64 not out and Danni Wyatt making 58.
Sussex beat Kent by 6 wickets. After their defeat the day before Sussex needed to beat Kent to keep their hopes of making the play-offs a reality. Once again without Sarah Taylor and Holly Colvin Sussex fielded a young side. Kent won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a good track. Youngsters Izi Noakes and Freya Davies opened for Sussex and not only gave nothing away, but picked up Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards respectively - Kent were 12/2 in the 8th over. Step forward Lydia Greenway, who, not for the first time this season, stepped up to the plate. She hit a magnificent even century, and with the aid of Deanna Cooper (53), added 137 for the third wicket. She was last out as Kent scored 200/5 in their 50 overs. Davies finished with 2/23 from her 10 overs.
 |
| Davies bowls Davidson-Richards |
Nottinghamshire beat Middlesex by 49 runs. Notts piled on the runs against Middlesex making 259/6 in their 50 overs. England's Danni Wyatt scored a magnificent 124 and Jane Smit (45) and Abbey Hawkins (47) also joined the party. Openers Helena Stolle (54) and Natasha Miles (51) got Middlesex off to a decent start, before Danni Wyatt accounted for them both, not with her bowling but her fielding as she ran them both out. Beth Morgan and Emma Inglis both went cheaply and Middlesex could only make it to 205/4 before they ran out of overs.
Warwickshire beat Essex by 4 wickets. Essex won the toss and decided to bat in this game but were soon in trouble at 18/3 and then 49/4 as Isabelle Watson (3/27) ripped out the top order. Joanne Cook (41) and Bryony Butcher (22) attempted to rebuild the innings, but when they fell to the returning Liz Russell (5/13) Essex's innings subsided to 125 all out. In a solid team batting effort Warwickshire scored what they needed in just under 37 overs for the loss of six wickets. Kayliegh Alsop (28*) and Amy Jones (26) were the top scorers, as five of the top six scored double figures.
Berkshire beat Yorkshire by 108 runs. Berkshire scored 216 all out, with Heather Knight scoring 123 of them. The next highest score was extras with 24. Yorkshire, after their exhilarating win over Sussex the previous day, never looked like getting close as wickets fell at regular intervals. Only Salliann Briggs (33*) put up any serious resistance as Heather Knight finished off the innings with 3/3 in three overs and Sharisa Gumbs (3/18) and Daisy Gardner (3/29) improved their stats for the season. Yorkshire were bowled out for 108 in 31 overs.
MD
28/V/13
Lancashire make hay while the sun shines
Division Two - Second Bank Holiday Double-Header Review
[updated Div 2 table here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html]
Lancashire were the big winners in the second Bank Holiday double-header set of fixtures. They maintained their 100% record with wins over Worcestershire, and a big win over previously unbeaten Somerset. It puts them in a commanding position with chasers Ireland, Worcester and Staffordshire all losing another game over the weekend.
Lancashire beat Worcestershire by 6 wickets - Worcestershire probably regretted their decision to bat first when they were bowled out for 102 in 38 overs. Bhumika Doshi (4/17) skittled out the middle order after Worcestershire's top order had failed to fire with the exception of Clare Boycott (31) and Thea Brookes (26). Fifteen year old Emma Lamb led the Lancashire reply with a mature 54 not out as Lancashire reached their target in 28 overs with four wickets down, three of them to Jo Greaves (3/18).
Ireland beat Cheshire by 13 runs in a low-scoring affair at Hawk Green. Ireland could only muster 129 before they were bowled out by the impressive Dawn Prestidge (6/28), including a hat-trick. Ireland can thank Rebecca Rolfe (39) and Amy Kenealy (25) for at least giving their bowlers something to bowl at. Cheshire looked in good shape as the openers took the score to 31 without loss, but when Hannah Gradwell (31) fell at 49, it was left to Prestidge (42) to try and hold things together. But Melissa Scott-Hayward (5/12) ran through the lower order, including Prestige as the ninth wicket, as Cheshire slumped to 116 all out.
Wales beat Devon by 52 runs to clock up their first win of the season, based around a solid, if rather slow, opening partnership of 139 between Lauren Parfitt (52) and Joanne Westwood (55). They fell within one run of each other, from when the rest of the Welsh batting struggled to 199/8. Devon made a reasonable start and had got to 101/3 when the wheels fell off thanks to Claire Thomas (5/20 in 10 overs), who reduced them to 114/8. Lydia Harris (21*) tried to hold it together with the lower order, but they ended well short on 147 all out.
Staffs beat Durham by 115 runs. Invited to bat Staffs scored a respectable 194/3 in their 50 overs thanks to workmanlike knocks from Charlotte Whyle (52) and Stephanie Butler (46*). Durham never really got going in reply with only Laura Hockaday (17) and Becky Glen (24) reaching double figures before they were all out for 79 in the 30th over. Shanel Daley claimed 5/25 and Butler 3/23.
Lancashire beat Somerset by 6 wickets in the big clash of the weekend. Invited to bat Somerset were soon in all sorts of trouble at 14/6 with three wickets apiece for Jasmine Titmuss (3/8) and Kathryn Cross (4/20). The lower order tried their best to rescue the situation, but it was not to be as Somerset crashed to 60 all out. Lancashire made steady headway towards victory before a late clatter of wickets to Jenny Withers (3/4), but it was too little too late as Emma Lamb (37*) completed another good weekend for her and for Lancashire.
Durham beat Ireland by 19 runs. In a second low-scoring match of the weekend Ireland this time came out on the losing side. Having restricted Durham to just 118/7 in their 50 overs Ireland must have felt the game was theirs to win, but Durham, and Rachel Petherick (6/17) in particular, had other ideas. Batsmen came and went as Ireland slumped to 38/8 and only a rearguard action by Louise McCarthy (21) and Mary Waldron (20) at nine and ten got Ireland anywhere close, before they were bowled out for 99 with 10 overs to go, to give Durham their first win of the season and dent Ireland's play-off hopes.
Devon beat Staffs by 8 wickets to finally notch their first win of the season. Staffs would have been hoping to secure their place in the top half of the league against a winless Devon, but their total of 133 all out was woefully short of what they needed. Elysse Lally (38) and Shanel Daley (30) were the only two significant scorers. Rebecca Donahue finished with 4/30 for Devon, who then proceeded to knock off the required runs in 30 overs and with eight wickets to spare. Top three Amara Carr (48), Aylish Cranstone (35) and Rosalie Birch (32*) saw them home.
Cheshire v Worcestershire was abandoned after Cheshire had been bowled out for 107. Worcester never got a chance to start their reply before play was called off.
[updated Div 2 table here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html]
The County Championship takes a break for the next four weeks as the Super 4s tournament takes place over the next three weekends, involving the top players in England.
MD
28/V/13
[updated Div 2 table here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html]
Lancashire were the big winners in the second Bank Holiday double-header set of fixtures. They maintained their 100% record with wins over Worcestershire, and a big win over previously unbeaten Somerset. It puts them in a commanding position with chasers Ireland, Worcester and Staffordshire all losing another game over the weekend.
Lancashire beat Worcestershire by 6 wickets - Worcestershire probably regretted their decision to bat first when they were bowled out for 102 in 38 overs. Bhumika Doshi (4/17) skittled out the middle order after Worcestershire's top order had failed to fire with the exception of Clare Boycott (31) and Thea Brookes (26). Fifteen year old Emma Lamb led the Lancashire reply with a mature 54 not out as Lancashire reached their target in 28 overs with four wickets down, three of them to Jo Greaves (3/18).
Ireland beat Cheshire by 13 runs in a low-scoring affair at Hawk Green. Ireland could only muster 129 before they were bowled out by the impressive Dawn Prestidge (6/28), including a hat-trick. Ireland can thank Rebecca Rolfe (39) and Amy Kenealy (25) for at least giving their bowlers something to bowl at. Cheshire looked in good shape as the openers took the score to 31 without loss, but when Hannah Gradwell (31) fell at 49, it was left to Prestidge (42) to try and hold things together. But Melissa Scott-Hayward (5/12) ran through the lower order, including Prestige as the ninth wicket, as Cheshire slumped to 116 all out.
Wales beat Devon by 52 runs to clock up their first win of the season, based around a solid, if rather slow, opening partnership of 139 between Lauren Parfitt (52) and Joanne Westwood (55). They fell within one run of each other, from when the rest of the Welsh batting struggled to 199/8. Devon made a reasonable start and had got to 101/3 when the wheels fell off thanks to Claire Thomas (5/20 in 10 overs), who reduced them to 114/8. Lydia Harris (21*) tried to hold it together with the lower order, but they ended well short on 147 all out.
Staffs beat Durham by 115 runs. Invited to bat Staffs scored a respectable 194/3 in their 50 overs thanks to workmanlike knocks from Charlotte Whyle (52) and Stephanie Butler (46*). Durham never really got going in reply with only Laura Hockaday (17) and Becky Glen (24) reaching double figures before they were all out for 79 in the 30th over. Shanel Daley claimed 5/25 and Butler 3/23.
Lancashire beat Somerset by 6 wickets in the big clash of the weekend. Invited to bat Somerset were soon in all sorts of trouble at 14/6 with three wickets apiece for Jasmine Titmuss (3/8) and Kathryn Cross (4/20). The lower order tried their best to rescue the situation, but it was not to be as Somerset crashed to 60 all out. Lancashire made steady headway towards victory before a late clatter of wickets to Jenny Withers (3/4), but it was too little too late as Emma Lamb (37*) completed another good weekend for her and for Lancashire.
Durham beat Ireland by 19 runs. In a second low-scoring match of the weekend Ireland this time came out on the losing side. Having restricted Durham to just 118/7 in their 50 overs Ireland must have felt the game was theirs to win, but Durham, and Rachel Petherick (6/17) in particular, had other ideas. Batsmen came and went as Ireland slumped to 38/8 and only a rearguard action by Louise McCarthy (21) and Mary Waldron (20) at nine and ten got Ireland anywhere close, before they were bowled out for 99 with 10 overs to go, to give Durham their first win of the season and dent Ireland's play-off hopes.
Devon beat Staffs by 8 wickets to finally notch their first win of the season. Staffs would have been hoping to secure their place in the top half of the league against a winless Devon, but their total of 133 all out was woefully short of what they needed. Elysse Lally (38) and Shanel Daley (30) were the only two significant scorers. Rebecca Donahue finished with 4/30 for Devon, who then proceeded to knock off the required runs in 30 overs and with eight wickets to spare. Top three Amara Carr (48), Aylish Cranstone (35) and Rosalie Birch (32*) saw them home.
Cheshire v Worcestershire was abandoned after Cheshire had been bowled out for 107. Worcester never got a chance to start their reply before play was called off.
[updated Div 2 table here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html]
The County Championship takes a break for the next four weeks as the Super 4s tournament takes place over the next three weekends, involving the top players in England.
MD
28/V/13
Friday, 24 May 2013
England to name new Director of Cricket and a separate Head Coach
Within two weeks of Mark Lane stepping down as England Women's Cricket Coach it seems the ECB are set to announce in the next few days a new Director of Women's Cricket and a new Head Coach to replace him.
Given that England have a mini-series against Pakistan starting at the beginning of July and the Ashes Series in August, an early appointment was perhaps not too unexpected, but the alacrity of the decision points either to some good advanced crisis succession planning, as eluded to by Clare Connor in a recent TMS interview, or that Lane's decision to move on was not a great shock.
Whatever the situation the new incumbents will have their work cut out over the next 13 weeks. England played well but lost the T20 World Cup last October, and played less well and did not even make the final of the ODI World Cup this February, including losing to Australia, and a first-ever defeat to Sri Lanka. They will expect to beat Pakistan with some ease, but the Ashes Series will prove to be a very stern test.
The Aussies have never been in better shape. They hold the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, and the Ashes themselves (after winning the one Test series by seven wickets in Australia back in 2011). All the World Cup winning players received a $10,000 bonus on returning from the World Cup and enhanced "professional contracts" have just been announced for 14 of the 15 woman squad who will be touring England this summer. They have a right to be happy with life.
As for England they are a team in transition. At their heart they still have Charlotte Edwards, who has proved that her batting skills are perhaps at their peak, even if her running skills are not. Sarah Taylor will be hoping to show her undoubted class out in the middle - and now would be a very good time to do that - but beyond these two England's batting still looks unconvincing. On the bowling front Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt are the best opening attack in the world...if they can stay fit....but that is a big "if". Brunt is yet to bowl a ball in anger this summer.
Who do England have to bring in? Pace bowlers Georgia Elwiss (who did well against India last summer) and young left-armer Tash Farrant, who is accurate and picks up wickets, must be names in the frame. On the batting front Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight have been on the fringes for a while, together with reserve keeper Amy Jones, but beyond these Natalie Sciver and Lauren Winfield have been putting in some good performances this season, and may merit a look at international level, at least against the Pakistanis. It is time for some of the England players to stand up and be counted if they want to feature in plans for the next T20 World Cup in 2014.
MD
24/V/13
Given that England have a mini-series against Pakistan starting at the beginning of July and the Ashes Series in August, an early appointment was perhaps not too unexpected, but the alacrity of the decision points either to some good advanced crisis succession planning, as eluded to by Clare Connor in a recent TMS interview, or that Lane's decision to move on was not a great shock.
Whatever the situation the new incumbents will have their work cut out over the next 13 weeks. England played well but lost the T20 World Cup last October, and played less well and did not even make the final of the ODI World Cup this February, including losing to Australia, and a first-ever defeat to Sri Lanka. They will expect to beat Pakistan with some ease, but the Ashes Series will prove to be a very stern test.
The Aussies have never been in better shape. They hold the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, and the Ashes themselves (after winning the one Test series by seven wickets in Australia back in 2011). All the World Cup winning players received a $10,000 bonus on returning from the World Cup and enhanced "professional contracts" have just been announced for 14 of the 15 woman squad who will be touring England this summer. They have a right to be happy with life.
As for England they are a team in transition. At their heart they still have Charlotte Edwards, who has proved that her batting skills are perhaps at their peak, even if her running skills are not. Sarah Taylor will be hoping to show her undoubted class out in the middle - and now would be a very good time to do that - but beyond these two England's batting still looks unconvincing. On the bowling front Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt are the best opening attack in the world...if they can stay fit....but that is a big "if". Brunt is yet to bowl a ball in anger this summer.
Who do England have to bring in? Pace bowlers Georgia Elwiss (who did well against India last summer) and young left-armer Tash Farrant, who is accurate and picks up wickets, must be names in the frame. On the batting front Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight have been on the fringes for a while, together with reserve keeper Amy Jones, but beyond these Natalie Sciver and Lauren Winfield have been putting in some good performances this season, and may merit a look at international level, at least against the Pakistanis. It is time for some of the England players to stand up and be counted if they want to feature in plans for the next T20 World Cup in 2014.
MD
24/V/13
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Key weekend in Women's County Championship
It may not even be the end of May, but this is another massive weekend in the Women's County Championship with games being played on Sunday and Monday. By Monday most teams will have played more than half of their fixtures for this season and the teams in the running for the play-offs and relegation will be much clearer.
Key matches will be Kent v Sussex in Div 1 on Monday - these are the two teams that look like they are heading for the Championship play-off again this season. The side that wins will almost certainly have one foot in the play-off. The loser will not be able to afford any more slip-ups before the end of the season, with Notts and Warwickshire breathing down their necks. At the other end of the table Surrey take on Middlesex on Monday with both teams desperate to notch up their first win.
In Div 2 Monday sees the much-anticipated clash between currently unbeaten Lancashire and Somerset, and Devon take on Wales on Sunday to try and keep themselves off the bottom of the table.
I'll run through all the games on both days below, but it is perhaps just worth reiterating what happens once all the league games have been played, as it is not as straightforward as you might think.
The top two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will play off against each other. The winner of the Division 1 play-off will be the County Champions.
The bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will also play-off against each other. The winner of each play-off will avoid relegation. The loser will meet the winner of the top two play-off in the division below. The winner of this match will go into the higher division and the loser will go into the lower division next season.
All of which means that it is pretty tough to get promotion (you have to finish top two and then win your play-off and then win another play-off against the relegaion battle loser from the division above), and that the bottom two teams in each of division (1,2 and 3) get two play-off chances to avoid relegation.
Division One - Matches and Preview
Sunday 26th May (11am)
Berks v Essex
Notts v Warwickshire
Surrey v Middlesex
Sussex v Yorkshire
Monday 27th May (11am)
Berks v Yorks
Kent v Sussex
Middlesex v Notts
Warwickshire v Essex
Berkshire will be hoping to pick up wins against both Essex and Yorkshire, but after their fragile batting effort against Kent last week they may come unstuck in at least one of those games.
Warwickshire finally got their season off the ground last week against Yorkshire. They have a tough game against Notts on Saturday, but I expect them to pull off a win there and then consolidate their place in the County Championship table with a further win over Essex on Sunday.
Surrey will be desperate to win their only game of the weekend against Middlesex on Sunday. Middlesex will have other ideas and if their batting can fire they may consign Surrey to the bottom spot in the league. Middlesex play Notts on Monday which should be a tight match. Notts may just nick it.
Sussex warm up for their big clash with Kent on Monday, with a tough match against Yorkshire, but they will back themselves to win both games. Much could depend on the fitness and form of their England players - Taylor, Colvin, Elwiss and Brindle - playing two games in two days. Kent have the advantage that they can rest their players on Sunday and come out all guns blazing on Monday. Charlotte Edwards batting for Kent may again be key.
Division Two - Matches and Preview
Sunday 26th May (11am)
Cheshire v Ireland
Devon v Wales
Durham v Staffs
Lancashire v Worcestershire
Monday 27th May (11am)
Cheshire v Worcestershire
Durham v Ireland
Lancashire v Somerset
Staffs v Devon
With unbeaten Somerset only playing one match over the weekend the chance is there for others to make ground on them this weekend. If Lancashire can beat Worcester on Sunday and then overcome Somerset themselves on Monday they will have won four from four and will be the only unbeaten team in Div 2. But that is a big "if". Worcester have wins over Durham and Devon under their belts already and could be a tough start to the weekend for Lancashire. Somerset will be no easier and they will be desperate to maintain their 100% record and go to the top of the league. Both games will be tense affairs.
Devon and Wales have had miserable starts to their seasons. Devon may add to Wales' woes in Wales' only game of the weekend on Sunday. They will then hope to beat Staffs on Sunday, who lost out to Lancashire last week.
Durham have a tough weekend ahead of them as they meet Staffs on Sunday and Ireland on Monday, with Isobel Joyce back in the Ireland team. It will take one or two fine individual performances for Durham to get off the mark against either team.
Ireland may be the biggest gainers of the weekend. If they can overcome Durham on Monday, they may already have another win under the belts from the previous day when they take on a young Cheshire side. Cheshire won their first match last weekend against Wales, but Ireland and Worcester this week could make it a disappointing weekend for the North Easterners.
MD
23/V/13
Key matches will be Kent v Sussex in Div 1 on Monday - these are the two teams that look like they are heading for the Championship play-off again this season. The side that wins will almost certainly have one foot in the play-off. The loser will not be able to afford any more slip-ups before the end of the season, with Notts and Warwickshire breathing down their necks. At the other end of the table Surrey take on Middlesex on Monday with both teams desperate to notch up their first win.
In Div 2 Monday sees the much-anticipated clash between currently unbeaten Lancashire and Somerset, and Devon take on Wales on Sunday to try and keep themselves off the bottom of the table.
I'll run through all the games on both days below, but it is perhaps just worth reiterating what happens once all the league games have been played, as it is not as straightforward as you might think.
The top two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will play off against each other. The winner of the Division 1 play-off will be the County Champions.
The bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will also play-off against each other. The winner of each play-off will avoid relegation. The loser will meet the winner of the top two play-off in the division below. The winner of this match will go into the higher division and the loser will go into the lower division next season.
All of which means that it is pretty tough to get promotion (you have to finish top two and then win your play-off and then win another play-off against the relegaion battle loser from the division above), and that the bottom two teams in each of division (1,2 and 3) get two play-off chances to avoid relegation.
Division One - Matches and Preview
Sunday 26th May (11am)
Berks v Essex
Notts v Warwickshire
Surrey v Middlesex
Sussex v Yorkshire
Monday 27th May (11am)
Berks v Yorks
Kent v Sussex
Middlesex v Notts
Warwickshire v Essex
Berkshire will be hoping to pick up wins against both Essex and Yorkshire, but after their fragile batting effort against Kent last week they may come unstuck in at least one of those games.
Warwickshire finally got their season off the ground last week against Yorkshire. They have a tough game against Notts on Saturday, but I expect them to pull off a win there and then consolidate their place in the County Championship table with a further win over Essex on Sunday.
Surrey will be desperate to win their only game of the weekend against Middlesex on Sunday. Middlesex will have other ideas and if their batting can fire they may consign Surrey to the bottom spot in the league. Middlesex play Notts on Monday which should be a tight match. Notts may just nick it.
Sussex warm up for their big clash with Kent on Monday, with a tough match against Yorkshire, but they will back themselves to win both games. Much could depend on the fitness and form of their England players - Taylor, Colvin, Elwiss and Brindle - playing two games in two days. Kent have the advantage that they can rest their players on Sunday and come out all guns blazing on Monday. Charlotte Edwards batting for Kent may again be key.
Division Two - Matches and Preview
Sunday 26th May (11am)
Cheshire v Ireland
Devon v Wales
Durham v Staffs
Lancashire v Worcestershire
Monday 27th May (11am)
Cheshire v Worcestershire
Durham v Ireland
Lancashire v Somerset
Staffs v Devon
With unbeaten Somerset only playing one match over the weekend the chance is there for others to make ground on them this weekend. If Lancashire can beat Worcester on Sunday and then overcome Somerset themselves on Monday they will have won four from four and will be the only unbeaten team in Div 2. But that is a big "if". Worcester have wins over Durham and Devon under their belts already and could be a tough start to the weekend for Lancashire. Somerset will be no easier and they will be desperate to maintain their 100% record and go to the top of the league. Both games will be tense affairs.
Devon and Wales have had miserable starts to their seasons. Devon may add to Wales' woes in Wales' only game of the weekend on Sunday. They will then hope to beat Staffs on Sunday, who lost out to Lancashire last week.
Durham have a tough weekend ahead of them as they meet Staffs on Sunday and Ireland on Monday, with Isobel Joyce back in the Ireland team. It will take one or two fine individual performances for Durham to get off the mark against either team.
Ireland may be the biggest gainers of the weekend. If they can overcome Durham on Monday, they may already have another win under the belts from the previous day when they take on a young Cheshire side. Cheshire won their first match last weekend against Wales, but Ireland and Worcester this week could make it a disappointing weekend for the North Easterners.
MD
23/V/13
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Women's County Championship - Kent and Somerset March On
A round-up of last weekend's Women's County Championship Division One and Two Results
Division One
Berkshire will be kicking themselves that they could not get more runs on the board against Kent having reduced them to 40/4 in reply to their own meagre total of 62 all out. And one of those four wickets was the prize scalp of Charlotte Edwards (15). Had they been chasing 150 it could have been a whole different ball game. But it was not - Alice Davidson-Richards (4/20) and Tash Farrant (3/8) were Kent's Broad and Anderson combination bowling out Berkshire in the 30th over with only three batsmen scraping in to double figures. Daisy Gardner did her best to keep Berkshire's hopes alive claiming 3/22 off her 10 overs, but Kent got home in the 24th over and remain unbeaten. They play Sussex next Monday in what could be their toughest game of the season.
Essex and Middlesex fought out a tight match. Invited to bat Essex managed to put together an innings of 176/8 in their 50 overs based around a painstaking 41 from 114 balls from opener Beth Langston and good middle-order contributions from Lauren Onajaife (41) and Bryony Butcher (33). Anna Nichols and Naomi Dattani claimed three wickets apiece. In reply Middlesex had got to 129/3 thanks mainly to Helena Stolle's 46, but then the Middlesex wheels came off when Cath Dalton was run out. Lily Reynolds claimed four wickets in 20 balls and Middlesex found themselves bowled out 22 runs short and with 28 balls left.
Warwickshire finally managed to pick up their first victory of the season against Yorkshire. Put in they made a reasonable score of 166/6 thanks to Amy Jones (51) and Fran Clarkson (30). Yorkshire could only manage 132 in reply with Isabelle Watson taking 5/35.
And in the final match in Division One Notts consigned Surrey to their third defeat on the trot. They were bowled out having struggled to 112 in 45 overs and Notts knocked them off for the loss of just three wickets in 35 overs.
The up-to-date league tables are here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html
Division Two
Ellwyn Campbell and Fran Wilson both scored 85 for Somerset as they set Ireland a stiff target posting 247/7 in their 50 overs. Laura Delaney chipped in with four late wickets for Ireland. In reply the Irish were without their influential skipper Isobel Joyce, who was off playing hockey in Antwerp for her club in the Eurohockey Club Champions Trophy. Ireland missed her ability to bat long, as they lost wickets at regular intervals and fell 77 runs short when all out for 170. Melissa Scott-Hayward (31) and Clare Shillington (30) top-scored for the Irish and Lauren Shrubsole took 4/38.
Lancashire maintained their winning start to the season with a decisive four wicket win over previously unbeaten Staffordshire. Invited to bat first Staffs were soon struggling at 22/3 and despite a few middle order runs from Shanel Daley (22) and Francesca James (24) Staffs could only limp to 109 before they were bowled out with 3 overs of their innings remaining. Jasmine Titmuss bagged 4/8 off her 10 overs. Lancashire took their time getting the runs and lost six wickets in the process, but still got there with some ease.
Cheshire won their first game of the season against the currently winless Welsh. Wales invited Cheshire to bat but they saw a lot of Jennifer Halstead (78) and Dawn Prestidge (76), who added 141 for the third wicket out of a final total of 197 all out in 47.5 overs. Unfortunately for Wales no-one could hang around for very long with opener Gabby Basketter (59) and when she was the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 123 the end was in sight. Wales were eventually bowled out 34 runs short on 163 with three overs left to bowl.
Unfortunately there was no play in the Durham v Devon game.
The up-to-date league tables are here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html
MD
21/V/13
Division One
Berkshire will be kicking themselves that they could not get more runs on the board against Kent having reduced them to 40/4 in reply to their own meagre total of 62 all out. And one of those four wickets was the prize scalp of Charlotte Edwards (15). Had they been chasing 150 it could have been a whole different ball game. But it was not - Alice Davidson-Richards (4/20) and Tash Farrant (3/8) were Kent's Broad and Anderson combination bowling out Berkshire in the 30th over with only three batsmen scraping in to double figures. Daisy Gardner did her best to keep Berkshire's hopes alive claiming 3/22 off her 10 overs, but Kent got home in the 24th over and remain unbeaten. They play Sussex next Monday in what could be their toughest game of the season.
Essex and Middlesex fought out a tight match. Invited to bat Essex managed to put together an innings of 176/8 in their 50 overs based around a painstaking 41 from 114 balls from opener Beth Langston and good middle-order contributions from Lauren Onajaife (41) and Bryony Butcher (33). Anna Nichols and Naomi Dattani claimed three wickets apiece. In reply Middlesex had got to 129/3 thanks mainly to Helena Stolle's 46, but then the Middlesex wheels came off when Cath Dalton was run out. Lily Reynolds claimed four wickets in 20 balls and Middlesex found themselves bowled out 22 runs short and with 28 balls left.
Warwickshire finally managed to pick up their first victory of the season against Yorkshire. Put in they made a reasonable score of 166/6 thanks to Amy Jones (51) and Fran Clarkson (30). Yorkshire could only manage 132 in reply with Isabelle Watson taking 5/35.
And in the final match in Division One Notts consigned Surrey to their third defeat on the trot. They were bowled out having struggled to 112 in 45 overs and Notts knocked them off for the loss of just three wickets in 35 overs.
The up-to-date league tables are here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html
Division Two
Ellwyn Campbell and Fran Wilson both scored 85 for Somerset as they set Ireland a stiff target posting 247/7 in their 50 overs. Laura Delaney chipped in with four late wickets for Ireland. In reply the Irish were without their influential skipper Isobel Joyce, who was off playing hockey in Antwerp for her club in the Eurohockey Club Champions Trophy. Ireland missed her ability to bat long, as they lost wickets at regular intervals and fell 77 runs short when all out for 170. Melissa Scott-Hayward (31) and Clare Shillington (30) top-scored for the Irish and Lauren Shrubsole took 4/38.
Lancashire maintained their winning start to the season with a decisive four wicket win over previously unbeaten Staffordshire. Invited to bat first Staffs were soon struggling at 22/3 and despite a few middle order runs from Shanel Daley (22) and Francesca James (24) Staffs could only limp to 109 before they were bowled out with 3 overs of their innings remaining. Jasmine Titmuss bagged 4/8 off her 10 overs. Lancashire took their time getting the runs and lost six wickets in the process, but still got there with some ease.
Cheshire won their first game of the season against the currently winless Welsh. Wales invited Cheshire to bat but they saw a lot of Jennifer Halstead (78) and Dawn Prestidge (76), who added 141 for the third wicket out of a final total of 197 all out in 47.5 overs. Unfortunately for Wales no-one could hang around for very long with opener Gabby Basketter (59) and when she was the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 123 the end was in sight. Wales were eventually bowled out 34 runs short on 163 with three overs left to bowl.
Unfortunately there was no play in the Durham v Devon game.
The up-to-date league tables are here - http://womens-cricket.blogspot.co.uk/p/womens-county-championship-league.html
MD
21/V/13
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
This Sunday's big games - Yorkshire v Warwickshire and Somerset v Ireland, plus more
The Women's County Championship is back on the radar this weekend with some crucial games to be played.
Division One (11am)
Berkshire v Kent @ Wokingham CC
Middlesex v Essex @ Edmonton CC
Yorkshire v Warwickshire @ Harrogate CC
Notts v Surrey @ Welbeck CC
Berkshire will have their work cut out keeping unbeaten Kent in check at Wokingham. Kent are three from three and with Lottie Edwards in such sparkling form it is difficult to back against them, but Berkshire will have nothing to lose and if they can find a way through Edward's defence they may have a chance. Berkshire's top five batting, lead by Heather Knight, who hit 153 against Middlesex in the last round, is stronger than their bowling. She may need to do something similar again this week.
Middlesex's strength is in their batting with good team scores against Kent and Berkshire. Essex have struggled so far this season and Middlesex may be able to add to their woes. Essex are a tight bowling unit, but lack depth in their batting. They need one of their top six to bat long if they are to compete.
Yorkshire v Warwickshire should be a cracker, with Warwickshire keen to break their duck in their third game. Yorkshire by contrast find themselves at the top of the table with two full bonus point wins to date - v Surrey and Essex. I think Warwickshire will grind out a win.
Notts look favourites to win against Surrey, who rely heavily on Nat Sciver with the bat. To date she has performed brilliantly (68 and 96 - v Yorkshire and Sussex), but she could do with some support. It would be a big boost for Surrey if Susie Rowe were pronounced fit to play. They need her experience.
Division Two (11am)
Cheshire v Wales @ Cheadle CC
Durham v Devon @ Willington CC
Somerset v Ireland @ Brislington CC
Lancashire v Staffordshire @ Leigh CC
Cheshire and Wales have both yet to record a win, but Wales' experience may give them the edge over their local rivals.
It is a long drive for Devon up to Durham and again we have two sides without a win to date. Devon will probably have the fire-power to steal the points if they can bowl and field better than they have done in their two previous games.
Somerset v Ireland should be the game of the day in either division. Ireland were in imperious form over the Bank Holiday double-header weekend with big wins over Devon and Wales. Captain Isobel Joyce has lead from the front with 75* and 95* in their two games to date. Somerset are also unbeaten, having played a game more, with Anya Shrubsole the leading wicket-taker in the division with 9 wickets.
Lancashire and Staffordshire are both unbeaten so far this season, both with wins over Cheshire, and Staffs also with a good win over Wales. Staffs will fancy their chances of making it three from three, but Lancashire may be a stiffer task than they have faced to date.
MD
15/V/13
Division One (11am)
Berkshire v Kent @ Wokingham CC
Middlesex v Essex @ Edmonton CC
Yorkshire v Warwickshire @ Harrogate CC
Notts v Surrey @ Welbeck CC
Berkshire will have their work cut out keeping unbeaten Kent in check at Wokingham. Kent are three from three and with Lottie Edwards in such sparkling form it is difficult to back against them, but Berkshire will have nothing to lose and if they can find a way through Edward's defence they may have a chance. Berkshire's top five batting, lead by Heather Knight, who hit 153 against Middlesex in the last round, is stronger than their bowling. She may need to do something similar again this week.
Middlesex's strength is in their batting with good team scores against Kent and Berkshire. Essex have struggled so far this season and Middlesex may be able to add to their woes. Essex are a tight bowling unit, but lack depth in their batting. They need one of their top six to bat long if they are to compete.
Yorkshire v Warwickshire should be a cracker, with Warwickshire keen to break their duck in their third game. Yorkshire by contrast find themselves at the top of the table with two full bonus point wins to date - v Surrey and Essex. I think Warwickshire will grind out a win.
Notts look favourites to win against Surrey, who rely heavily on Nat Sciver with the bat. To date she has performed brilliantly (68 and 96 - v Yorkshire and Sussex), but she could do with some support. It would be a big boost for Surrey if Susie Rowe were pronounced fit to play. They need her experience.
Division Two (11am)
Cheshire v Wales @ Cheadle CC
Durham v Devon @ Willington CC
Somerset v Ireland @ Brislington CC
Lancashire v Staffordshire @ Leigh CC
Cheshire and Wales have both yet to record a win, but Wales' experience may give them the edge over their local rivals.
It is a long drive for Devon up to Durham and again we have two sides without a win to date. Devon will probably have the fire-power to steal the points if they can bowl and field better than they have done in their two previous games.
Somerset v Ireland should be the game of the day in either division. Ireland were in imperious form over the Bank Holiday double-header weekend with big wins over Devon and Wales. Captain Isobel Joyce has lead from the front with 75* and 95* in their two games to date. Somerset are also unbeaten, having played a game more, with Anya Shrubsole the leading wicket-taker in the division with 9 wickets.
Lancashire and Staffordshire are both unbeaten so far this season, both with wins over Cheshire, and Staffs also with a good win over Wales. Staffs will fancy their chances of making it three from three, but Lancashire may be a stiffer task than they have faced to date.
MD
15/V/13
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