1st June 2016
| Mallory Gray
The second
round of the women’s County Championship Bank Holiday fixtures began on a
gloriously hot Sunday at Usk Cricket Club, where Wales were faced by a strong
Devon side before facing Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl the following day.
Captain
Claire Thomas lost the toss and were made to bowl first on what seemed a very
flat wicket. However, opening bowlers Ffion Wynne and Anwen Morgan gave Wales
the perfect start, as the former removed Aylish Cranstone for a duck in the
third over of the game, triggering a dramatic collapse which left the visitors
reeling at 7-5. Devon struggled to recover having lost their top order so
suddenly, as Wynne finished with 3-14 and Morgan with astonishing figures of
2-0 off her 5 overs. Sophie Mackenzie gave a brief glimmer of hope, but Claire
Thomas continued Wales’ impressive bowling with figures of 4-11 to clear
Devon’s lower order, with our girls requiring only 81 runs for a truly
comprehensive victory.
Openers Gabby Basketter and Lauren Parfitt began
confidently, looking as if they were batting on an entirely different wicket as
they cruised to 43 within the first 11 overs. Assisted by some loose Devon
bowling which gave away 21 extras, the girls reached the target having only
lost the wicket of Basketter, with Parfitt remaining unbeaten on 36 to complete
an impressive performance in every aspect of the game.
A long minibus journey to
Southampton followed, but the girls arrived at the Ageas Bowl full of
confidence from the previous day. The weather had turned drastically as several
layers were required for both players and spectators, but the game still
progressed competitively.
Thomas won the toss and chose to bat first on an
extremely good wicket with a large, quick outfield for assistance. Parfitt and
Basketter again managed to relieve the pressure caused by Hampshire’s opening
bowlers by putting on 35 for the first wicket before the former fell for a
well-made 26. Following a brief collapse in the middle order, Naomi Davies and
Glamorgan Academy youngster Georgia Parfitt steadied the innings effectively,
running brilliantly between the wickets to place the pressure back on the opposition.
Davies fell to an excellent catch from Katie George for 18, but Georgia
continued to play her shots before departing for a vital 22. The lower order
managed to boost Wales’ total to 170 off their 50 overs with Charlotte
Scarborough finishing 12 not out, but on a good wicket the girls knew they must
bowl well.
Ffion Wynne claimed 2 quick wickets to leave Hampshire at 9-2, but
an impressive partnership between Windsor and Taylor once again put Wales on
the back foot. Claire Thomas again bowled excellently to break the partnership
and finish with another 3 wickets to her tally, as a tight finish followed with
the game progressing to the final over. Cowdrill played a fantastic innings for
Hampshire to finish 33 not out, sending panic through the Welsh camp, but the
discipline of Wales’ bowling improved dramatically which allowed them to win a
closely fought game by the narrow margin of only 6 runs.
Following these two great wins,
Wales sit comfortably in second place in the Division Two table, with only
unbeaten Lancashire above them. With a few T20s in between, they face
Worcestershire on 17th July in the next County Championship game as
they aim to continue their impressive form.