Following results on Sunday – Berkshire Women’s 1st XI has qualified for the inaugural Metro Bank One Day Cup – Women’s League 3 Final. The final will take place at Kibworth CC, Leicestershire on Sunday 21st September.
Match Review vs Buckinghamshire Women – 14th September
Sunday 14th September was shaping up to be an exciting days cricket with the top 4 playing each other with 3 teams still competing for the 2nd finals day spot. Berkshire went into the weekend occupying the 2nd finals day spot. However, the weather was also looming with the potential to play a part in the results.
The Berkshire vs Bucks game was able to start on time, and we subsequently lost the toss at Slough CC and were invited to bat first by Bucks. Meanwhile further North, the Staffordshire vs Devon game had a delayed start due to ground conditions. Bucks struck in the first over of the game to get off to a good start. However, Fiza (11) & Poppy (15) were able to put 28 runs on for the 2nd wicket in conditions that were not favourable to bat in before Fiza departed in the 9th over. Captain, Izzy Storrar came to the crease at 4 and was able to up the rate, racing to 30 runs. However, 2 quick wickets fell with the score on 73 to reduce Berkshire to 73/4. The news then filtered through that the Staffordshire vs Devon game had been abandoned which meant the result of our game would determine which side would qualify for the final. Bucks had to win, but with Berkshire going into the match with a 1pt lead, a win or abandoned game would send Berkshire through. With the forecast now suggesting rain was a certainty by 2:30pm (the 2nd innings scheduled to start at 2:10pm), Berkshire forcing a positive result would be very difficult with DLS always favouring the team batting 2nd in a shortened game. Meanwhile for Bucks to force a result and get the 10 overs required to constitute a game they would need to bowl us out inside about 40 overs. Izzy, now joined by Iqraa Hussain (13) and then Naaz Asif Iqbal, were able to form partnerships and occupy the crease guiding us through to the 40 over mark with the score 129/6. Having reached this point, the batters coming in were then able to look to up the scoring rate. Izzy Storrar having held the innings together was finally dismissed by a direct hit run out in the 45th over for 67 (128b) making it back-to-back half centuries at the crunch end of the season. Naaz and Freya had some fun in the final 5 overs putting 39 runs on with Naaz 25* (31b) and Freya Johnson 23* (21b). Berkshire’s innings ended on 191/7 off their 50 overs. A score, given the conditions, the side would have been very pleased with and would of backed our bowling attack to defend if Bucks needed to chase the full amount.
Play was due to restart at 2:10pm following the interval. However, the rain began as both teams were gathering to go back out and the covers came on. Following a period of light rain, it then set in, and the match was abandoned. With the points shared and Staffordshire not being able to force through a result before the rain either this meant Berkshire stayed in 2nd place and qualified for finals day.
Finals Day Preview – Sunday 21st September
Devon Women vs Berkshire Women
Kibworth CC
10:30am Start
Sunday 21st September
Devon the other finalists qualified as group winners with 5 wins and 2 games abandoned due to the weather. The two sides have already met on 3 occasions so far this summer with 1x 50 over encounter and 2x T20 matches. Devon currently edge the head-to-head with 2 wins to Berkshire’s 1 win.
Game 1 – 50 Overs – Sunday 20th April
Berkshire – 147ao (36.4)
Devon – 151/6 (40/42)
Devon won by 4 wickets
The first game of the season, Devon picked up a narrow win chasing down Berkshire’s 147 with 2 overs and 4 wickets to spare in a reduced overs game. Berkshire lost the toss and were invited to bat first on a very wet pitch and collapsed to 19/4 & 54/6 before the lower order rallied to post 147. Berkshire bowlers got off to a good start, controlling the rate and picking up a couple of early wickets before Devon’s 3rd wicket put on 64 runs. Berkshire were then able to pick up another 4 wickets and make Devon work hard to get across the line in what was a competitive, lower scoring game.
Game 2 – 1st T20 – Sunday 15th June
Devon – 118/3 (20)
Berkshire – 103/9 (20)
Devon won by 15 runs
In the 1st T20, Berkshire bowled first and despite not being able to take wickets were able to restrict the Devon batters at less than a run a ball. The run chase got off to a difficult start with 3 quick wickets in the powerplay. Shristi Patil & Poppy Camplin rallied to put 69 runs on for the 4th wicket to put Berkshire back in a strong position. However, both set batters were dismissed and the Devon spinners were able to restrict the new batters coming in with Berkshire ending up 15 runs shy.
Game 3 – 2nd T20 – Sunday 15th June
Devon – 105ao (18.2)
Berkshire – 106/4 (19.5)
Berkshire won by 6 wickets
The 2nd T20 was another close match with Berkshire getting over the line with 1 ball to spare. Devon batted first again, and Berkshire’s bowlers were once again able to cause problems and this time restrict the scoring by taking wickets at regular intervals before bowling them out with 10 balls to spare. The Berkshire run chase got off to a flyer in the powerplay with Alex Avoth hitting 32 (23b). Out of the powerplay, Devon’s spinners were once again able to make it difficult to chase the total down but the batters worked hard and despite a couple of late wickets that took it down to the last over Berkshire were able to get over the line.
Team News
3 players come out of the side that faced Bucks with Mary Briscoe, Iqraa Hussain and Cesca Sweet all unavailable. 4 players come into the squad with Eliza Bristowe & Emma MacEwen returning having missed the last game. Alex Avoth also returns to the top of the order. The final player coming into the squad see’s the return of Sarah Pearson to bolster the seam bowling options having appeared on loan for us in the early part of the season.