Suffolk County Cricket Board

The Suffolk U13 girls reached peak performance at the end of the competitive season when they beat Essex at Beaconsfield CC this week. Four county teams travelled to join host team Bucks for a 1 day tournament. Despite a tough draw, Suffolk convincingly beat Berks and Essex to make the final against home favourites Bucks. Expectations were high that Essex would triumph but Suffolk batted first and set a standard Essex could not match. A 42 run partnership between Shannon Sayers (23* including 5 fours) and Plum O’Riordan (4) was the backbone of the innings, finishing on 52 for 2 wickets off 8 overs. The Suffolk fielders then pressurised the batters into a run out, a stumping (Megan Garrod Wkt) and an LBW from Captain Fran Auchterlonie. Essex finished 3 runs short on 39, a shock defeat for the first class county by its minor county neighbour.

In the final, the more experienced Bucks side, coached by former England test cricketer Aftab Habib, found the boundary consistently and scored 60 runs. For Suffolk, Polly Dodds and Jo Jo Maberly scored a valiant 29 run partnership, one run at a time. But the run rate wasn’t enough to get them home and Bucks won by 21 runs. In addition to being awarded their runner up medals, Fran Auchterlonie and Lizzie Brisbane were also recognised for being in the top three bowling performances of the day with 5 wickets each.

“The Suffolk girls have shown total commitment to improving their game this season after a 12 week winter training programme,” commented Mary Munley, U13s Coach. “Their success is also thanks to the supportive, taxi-driving parents who give up so much time.” You can follow the activities of Suffolk Women’s and Girls’ cricket on Facebook http://on.fb.me/qUyGDq

With the 2011 season in full swing our attention is already looking forward to next summer and the Girls’ representative squads for 2012.  I am sure you will be aware that Suffolk Cricket Board together with the Suffolk Women’s and Girls’ Cricket Association run County squads at U11, U13, U15 and U17 age groups as well as 4 District squads at U12.

  A historic day for the club saw its first ever Ladies XI play a Two Counties Division 2 game away to Mistley CC. Bury Ladies had their first taste of opening a Twenty 20 innings and posted a cautious 64 for 6 with Alex Stanford the top scoring batter. In reply the more experienced Mistley side, veterans of the Beaumont Seymour League, began in aggressive style but lost an early wicket to a superb, one-handed caught and bowled by Esme Covington-Cross.  A useful second wicket from skipper Mary Munley could not prevent the home team from reaching the total needed with overs and wickets to spare. Mistley won by 8 wickets.

  The Bury Ladies’ Captain explained, “Most of our ladies have never played before this season so we are pretty green but there is a great buzz about women’s cricket at the moment. We have developed a squad of 20 in six weeks. Mind you the free chocolate and strawberries may have had a part to play!”

  Bury Ladies train on a Wednesday evening from 6.30pm at the Victory Ground and are happy for more willing learners to join them. Contact Mary Munley on 0794 1322 746. Directions on the website www.burystedmundscricketclubofficialsite.co.uk

For a copy of the WAG Fixtures for 2011, please click here.