Juniper Green Surrey Trust League - Rowledge Surrey Trust Ladies vs Ashford Surrey Trust Ladies

Ashford batted first on the hottest day of the year, and lost a couple of early wickets before Ali McCreedy and Katie Butler steadied things and began to accumulate runs. The pair ran well together between the wickets, despite the heat, and had added 81 when Butler was the first to pass the retirement total of 35, including five 4s. Rhianna Southby took her place, and wasted no time in setting about the attack, her 25 coming off only 20 balls. McCreedy was next to retire, another five boundaries in her score. With the innings reaching its final overs, every run was important, and Captain Angharad Purser smashed 13 off 7 balls to increase the pace. The Ashford lower order were not to be left out - Nicky Sawyer got off the mark with a deft scoop over the wicket keeper, Yolandi Maynier missed a 6 by millimetres and Katie Brown hit a beautiful straight 4, but the star of the final overs was Rowledge’s Katie Forward. She picked up five wickets with her last 12 balls, to finish with 6-14.

Chasing 191, Rowledge needed to get off to a good start, and they did just that, scoring almost 70 off the first 10 overs, Forward showing her skill with the bat this time. She fell to Yolandi Maynier, and when Jenny Tippell’s throw ran out the other opener, Rowledge began to struggle. Ashford chased down everything in the field, Sarah Taylor, Rhianna Southby and Katie Brown particularly sharp. Brown and Southby also bowled well, but it was Amber Cousens who got the next wicket, Hannah Merchant taking a great catch. The Rowledge youngsters did their best to pick up runs, but overs were running out, and Ashford ended up comfortable winners.

Alison McCreedy