Chikhlia’s Magnificent Seven Powers Berkshire to Victory at Staffordshire
A career-best bowling performance from Shayna Chikhlia inspired Berkshire Women to a convincing 63-run victory over Staffordshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Moddershall CC on Sunday.
Chikhlia produced one of the finest bowling displays by a Berkshire Women player in recent seasons, taking a sensational 7-14 from seven overs as Staffordshire were dismissed for 157 in reply to Berkshire’s 220-9. The victory moves Berkshire onto 20 points from five matches, four points behind leaders Devon and five points clear of third-placed Staffordshire. With home fixtures against Cambridgeshire and Bucks still to come, Berkshire remain firmly in contention for the Women’s League 3 Division One title.
After being asked to bat first, Berkshire posted a competitive total thanks to several valuable contributions throughout the batting order.
Alex Avoth made 15 before Naazneen Asif Iqbal helped establish the innings with a well-compiled 30 from 47 balls. Sarah Pearson then anchored the middle overs superbly, producing an excellent 57 from 74 deliveries, including four boundaries, to guide Berkshire towards a defendable total.
Further contributions from Ashneet Chahal (19), Livia Sharma (20), Emma MacEwen (13 not out) and Chikhlia (7 not out) ensured Berkshire finished on 220-9 from their 50 overs, with 21 extras also boosting the total.
Staffordshire made a positive start to their chase and reached 72-1, with Megan Pittman scoring 40 and Sophie Warrilow 25, before Chikhlia turned the match decisively in Berkshire’s favour.
The seamer struck to remove Pittman before dismissing Warrilow in her next over and then ripped through the middle and lower order. Her outstanding spell of 7-14 included seven of the final nine wickets to fall, reducing Staffordshire from a promising position to 157 all out in just 34.5 overs.
Emily Hughes battled hard for 31 while Samadhi Samarakoon finished unbeaten on 33, but there was little answer to Chikhlia’s accuracy and movement as Berkshire seized complete control of the contest.
Molly Bulteel claimed the early wicket of Lydia Perry, while Immi Storrar removed Hughes and Emma MacEwen wrapped up the innings with the final wicket to complete an excellent all-round bowling performance.
Attention now turns to Berkshire’s next fixture as they return to Falkland CC on Sunday 16 August to host Cambridgeshire before welcoming Bucks to Finchampstead on 30 August. Elsewhere, leaders Devon still have testing fixtures against Cheshire and Staffordshire, ensuring the race for the Women’s League 3 Division One title remains finely poised with several important matches still to be played across the division.