4th September 2023
| Carl Holding
The 2nd Women's Welsh Cup finals day at Vale Cricket Club saw Colwyn Bay CC retain their Plate trophy and Sudbrook CC - finalists for a 2nd year running win the main Welsh Cup competition.
On a glorious sunny day - 8 teams from 2 separate competitions would take to the field in the hope of walking away as Welsh cup champions.
The plate competition which is played using a pairs format included Bronwydd CC playing against Penygroes CC and Pentyrch CC playing against Colwyn Bay CC. With both games played simultaneously - all four teams were looking to make it to the final.
In Semi Final 1 - Penygroes won the toss and asked Bronwydd to bat first. Bronwydd posted a very competitive total of 85 runs for the loss of 1 wicket which resulted in a net score of 80. Nia Bullen 15 not out top scoring for the batting team. In reply Penygroes lost wickets at regular intervals - Alana Gealy 14 and Victoria Dawney 13 managed to help Penygroes scored 93 runs in their hundred ball innings however with the loss of 7 wickets it was Bronwydd who took the win and book a place in the final. Nia Bullen 2-13, Buddug Phillips 1-8 and Elizabeth Woods 1-26 were the pick of the bowlers.
Semi final 2 between Colwyn Bay and Pentyrch went right down to the wire. Pentyrch batted first scoring 78-9 meaning a net score of 33 - in reply, Colwyn Bay went about the run chase very cautiously - losing only 4 wickets and going into the last over needing 2 to win. Pentyrch bowled a very tight last set of 5 balls, and it was off the last ball Colwyn Bay managed to pass the target of 33 and join Bronwydd in the final.
In the final - Bronwydd won the toss and elected to field - and they did well to restrict Colwyn Bay to 67 runs off their 100 balls. Nia Bullen again bowling well only going for 1 run off her 20-ball allocation. Buddug Phillips 3-12 also the pick of the bowlers. In reply Bronwydd looked like they were heading to victory - but Sue Woolfenden 3-6 and Jane Smith 3-17 took some late wickets to put themselves in a winning position and ended winning the game by 11 runs. A fantastic start to the day - Colwyn Bay taking the trophy back up north for the 2nd year running.
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In Semi Final 1 of the main competition - it was another all-west match up with Llanrhian CC and Llandeilo CC taking on each other. Llanrhian opted to field first and restricted Llandeilo to 89-5 off their 100 balls. Gemma Pugh top scoring with 13 - and Llanrhian’ s bowlers sharing the wickets amongst each other. In reply - captain Katy Jenkins 31 off 26 balls got them off to a good start - and despite some good bowling in the middle overs - Gemma Pugh returning with 2-10 off her 20 balls the Llanrhian middle order managed to see them over the line and into the final
In Semi Final 2 - it was Sudbrook who won the toss and elected to field and similarly to Semi final 1 managed to restrict the opposition Ynystawe to 96-4. Lowri Bendle 27, Kelly Palmer 18 and Portia Neville 19 all contributing for the batting side - Harriet Till 2-28 the pick of the bowlers. In Sudbrook's reply it was Lisa Duncan with a brilliant 35 off 21 balls and Sian Heaven 23 off 21 balls who took Sudbrook over the line with 9 balls remaining. Rhian Jones 2-24 the pick of the Ynystawe bowlers.
In the final - Sudbrook again winning the toss and choosing to field first. Llanrhian posting 88 off their 100 balls - Harriet Till continuing her good form with the ball taking 2-13. Carrie Slack top scoring for Llanrhian with 18. In reply - Sudbrook cruised to victory losing just the 1 wicket. Meghan Duncan 31 off balls, Harriet Till 23 of 16 balls and Louise Duncan 15 not out securing the win for the east side.
A fantastic day held at Vale Cricket club - a big thank you to Gareth Andrews the chair and his team. Also, a huge thank you to all the volunteers and officials who did a brilliant job.
