Promising start for Wales Women

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The Wales Women's Team

Wales’ senior women began their Division 2 County Championship campaign with two away fixtures at Essex and Leicestershire over the bank holiday weekend.

A long minibus journey to Billericay began early on Saturday afternoon, with the girls appearing relaxed and confident for the following days.

Sunday morning began at Billericay CC with clear but cold conditions, and Wales were sent in to bat, with captain Claire Thomas having lost the toss. Following the early loss of Gabby Basketter, vice-captain Lauren Parfitt (41) rebuilt the innings positively alongside Megan Burton (23) before the former was out stumped in the 27th over attempting to increase momentum. Assisted by some loose Essex bowling, gifting Wales with 30 extras, the girls ended up 150 all out within 45 overs.

The pitch had became slower and lower throughout the Wales innings making Essex’s chase more difficult, with Ffion Wynne removing opener Lily Reynolds lbw early on.

The opposition’s key batsman, Cordelia Griffith (24), began positively before Naomi Davies held on to a difficult catch at mid-on off Anwen Morgan, the first of her four wickets in the game. Wales continued to bowl tightly and executed their skills in the field brilliantly to restrict the opposition from maintaining the required run rate. Essex’s Emily Smith (29*) was unluckily left stranded at the end of the innings, having shown determination to see her side home before Wales repeatedly took wickets at the other end. Morgan finished the pick of the bowlers with 4-19 off seven overs as our girls won convincingly by 37 runs, showing real promise for the next day and the season ahead.  

Having travelled to Leicester the previous night, Wales arrived at Empingham CC full of confidence.

However, with Leicestershire desperate to prove a point having been skittled for 97 all out the previous day against Nottinghamshire, it was always going to be a closely fought game. Wales began positively with Parfitt again playing a key role with 32 at the top of the innings, as Basketter took charge blasting an aggressive 48 off 58 balls, including 10 fours. Having put on 88 for the opening wicket, a brief middle-order collapse followed with Katie Midwood taking 3-30 and Lucy Higham taking 3-14, having bowled consistently tight lines to cause trouble for Wales’ batsmen. Megan Burton (16) and Charlotte Scarborough (19) steadied the ship to take Wales to 150-7 in the 43rd over, before Wynne (15*) and Anwen Morgan (4*) allowed the girls to post a final score of 180-9.

Unfortunately, the rain began to pour during the lunch break and a restart looked unlikely for a while. The umpires decided to attempt to complete the game, with Leicestershire requiring 73 off 20 overs in order to constitute a game. However, with a soaking wet ground, Ffion Wynne fell having bowled one ball and the ground was deemed unfit to play, leaving the game abandoned.          

Despite Monday’s annoyances, the girls showed great attitudes and determination for the rest of the season, as they prepare for their next game against Nottinghamshire in two weeks’ time. 

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