Review: Cheshire Women's Cricket League

Here's what's been happening in the Cheshire Women's Cricket League.

Division One – June 6

Appleton 91 (38.4; Di Buckley 26, Emma Royle 3-8, Jenny Dunn 2-3, Ellie Mason 2-13) (Three points)

Stockport Trinity 94-2 (19.5; Mason 55*, Carys White 21*, Sami Fowler 2-11) (25 points)

Emma Royle’s bowling spell got Trinity off to a great start and they never looked back. Di Buckley’s battling 26 rescued Appleton to some degree later in the innings, but the target still didn’t trouble the Stockport side, with Ellie Mason seeing them home with another half century.

Division Two – June 6

Ashton-on-Mersey 70 (31.3; Amanda Gettins 13, Freya Davies 3-13, Ellie Grisedale 3-22) (three points)

Oxton 71-2 (16.4; Molly Price 21*) (25 points)

An excellent all-round bowling effort, followed by a comfortable run chase, saw Oxton to their first win of the year. Enid Bakewell made her debut for AOM here today, and although the England veteran failed to trouble the scorers, seeing this legendary figure of women’s cricket taking the field in Cheshire represents another major coup for our league. 80-year-old Bakewell, who played a key role in the 1973 World Cup win, becomes the fifth full England international to play in the CWCL, following Sarah Collyer, Lauren Griffiths, Laura MacLeod and Sophie Ecclestone.

Division Four – June 6

Lindow 2^nd XI 69-7 (20; Hannah Brooks 12, Olivia Randles 4-11, Gemma Brooks 2-5) (25 points)

Heaton Mersey & Cheadle 55 (17.3; Michelle Hesslegrave 4-7, Hannah Brooks 2-3, Steph Walker 2-7) (6pts)Heaton Mersey & Cheadle couldn’t follow up their first league win and instead Lindow seconds recorded what was their own second league win of the year.

Knockout Cup Round One – June 1

Oxton 89-5 (20; Tessie Nickson 32ret, Hannah Kowalski 26, Ali Cutler 3-12, Charlie Thompson 2-17)

Chester Boughton Hall Deemons 92-2 (14.1; Nicole Fisher 30ret, Cutler 29, Nandu Valliyil 26*)

Chester completed their run chase with all of six overs remaining after some rapid scoring from Ali Cutler and Nandu Valliyil, with Nicole Fisher remaining unbeaten on the retirement score. They now progress to a last-eight encounter at Appleton. Oxton had earlier failed to capitalize on their excellent start at 71-0 after 12 overs.

NATIONAL KNOCKOUT

 Round Two – May 31

Porthill Park w/o Kibworth

Round Three – June 6

Nantwich Vipers 125-2 (20; Madi Hudson 71*, Charlotte Neal 28*, Emily Sutton 2-19)

Leyland 84-7 (20; Abby Mort 22*, Beth Hughes 2-11)

Nantwich powered past one of Lancashire’s best club sides to ensure that, for the third competition in a row, the League will be represented in the Northern Regional Final – the last eight nationally. Madi Hudson was the hero, leading the way with 71 at almost a run a ball, being joined by Charlotte Neal for a century partnership. Leyland lost regular wickets in reply as they struggled with their imposing target. A trip to Yorkshire to play Sessay – the club that defeated Didsbury at the same stage in 2018 and 2019 – now awaits the Vipers.